CVE-2014-4492 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
libnetcore in Apple iOS before 8.1.3, Apple OS X before 10.10.2, and Apple TV before 7.0.3 does not verify that certain values have the expected data type, which allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in an _networkd context via a crafted XPC message from a sandboxed app, as demonstrated by lack of verification of the XPC dictionary data type.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
This vulnerability resides in the libnetcore library component of Apple's operating systems, affecting iOS versions prior to 8.1.3, macOS versions before 10.10.2, and Apple TV versions before 7.0.3. The core issue stems from insufficient type validation within the network daemon service that processes XPC (XPC is Apple's inter-process communication framework) messages. When a sandboxed application sends a crafted XPC message to the network daemon, the system fails to properly validate that incoming data conforms to expected data types, creating a critical security gap that can be exploited for privilege escalation.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper input sanitization and type checking in the XPC message handling mechanism. Specifically, the network daemon process _networkd does not validate that dictionary values received through XPC communications maintain their expected data types. This type confusion vulnerability allows an attacker-controlled sandboxed application to manipulate the data structure of XPC messages in ways that cause the network daemon to interpret malicious data as legitimate commands. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within a privileged context where the network daemon runs with elevated permissions, making it a prime target for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges through a sandboxed application. This represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that transforms a limited sandboxed app into a full system compromise. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages the legitimate XPC communication infrastructure that is necessary for system operation, making detection more difficult. Attackers can craft malicious XPC messages that, when processed by the vulnerable network daemon, result in code execution in the privileged _networkd context, potentially allowing full system compromise and persistent access.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-707, which covers improper neutralization of dangerous data within a security boundary, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting vulnerabilities for privilege escalation. The flaw represents a classic type confusion attack pattern that bypasses sandboxing mechanisms by exploiting trust relationships within system components. Organizations should implement immediate patch management to upgrade affected Apple operating systems to versions that address this vulnerability, as well as monitor for unusual network daemon behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional defensive layers, though the most effective mitigation remains applying the official security patches that correct the type validation logic in the libnetcore library.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in privileged system components and highlights how seemingly minor type checking failures can result in severe privilege escalation opportunities. This flaw underscores the necessity of robust security boundaries and proper sandboxing mechanisms, particularly when dealing with inter-process communication in operating system services. System administrators should prioritize deployment of the relevant security updates and consider implementing additional monitoring for anomalous XPC communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.