CVE-2011-1418 in Apple
Summary
by MITRE
The stateless address autoconfiguration (aka SLAAC) functionality in the IPv6 networking implementation in Apple iOS before 4.3 and Apple TV before 4.2 places the MAC address into the IPv6 address, which makes it easier for remote IPv6 servers to track users by logging source IPv6 addresses.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-1418 represents a significant privacy flaw in Apple's implementation of IPv6 networking protocols across iOS and Apple TV devices. This issue stems from the Stateless Address Autoconfiguration mechanism that automatically generates IPv6 addresses for network interfaces without requiring a centralized server. The core technical flaw occurs when the system incorporates the device's MAC address directly into the generated IPv6 address, creating a persistent identifier that remains consistent across network sessions and connections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to encompass broader tracking capabilities for remote IPv6 servers and network monitoring entities. When MAC addresses are embedded within IPv6 addresses, they create a stable fingerprint that allows adversaries to correlate network activity across different time periods and network environments. This persistent identifier enables sophisticated tracking mechanisms that can monitor user behavior, location patterns, and online activities without requiring additional tracking cookies or persistent identifiers. The vulnerability specifically affects Apple iOS versions prior to 4.3 and Apple TV versions prior to 4.2, representing a widespread issue across Apple's mobile and entertainment platforms.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and demonstrates how seemingly legitimate networking protocols can be exploited for privacy violations. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential access through network sniffing and monitoring activities, as the embedded MAC addresses provide attackers with persistent identifiers for reconnaissance purposes. The flaw essentially undermines the fundamental privacy protections that IPv6 was designed to provide, transforming the anonymity benefits of the protocol into a tracking liability.
The mitigation approach for this vulnerability required Apple to modify their IPv6 address generation algorithms to ensure that MAC addresses are not embedded within the generated IPv6 addresses. This update involved changing the way interface identifiers are created during SLAAC operations, typically by using random or cryptographically secure methods instead of deterministic MAC address incorporation. Users were advised to upgrade to the affected versions that included this fix, as the vulnerability could be exploited by any remote IPv6 server that logs source addresses. The resolution demonstrates the importance of privacy-by-design principles in network protocol implementation and highlights how even standard networking features can introduce unexpected tracking capabilities when not properly secured.