CVE-2015-1086 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
The Audio Drivers subsystem in Apple iOS before 8.3 and Apple TV before 7.2 does not properly validate IOKit object metadata, which allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1086 represents a critical security flaw within the Audio Drivers subsystem of Apple iOS and Apple TV operating systems. This issue stems from insufficient validation of IOKit object metadata, which forms the foundation of Apple's kernel-level driver architecture. The vulnerability affects iOS versions prior to 8.3 and Apple TV versions prior to 7.2, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized privileged access to system resources.
The technical nature of this vulnerability resides in the improper validation mechanisms within the IOKit framework, which is Apple's kernel programming interface for device drivers and system services. When applications attempt to interact with audio drivers through IOKit, the system should validate all metadata associated with the driver objects to ensure they originate from legitimate sources and contain valid parameters. However, the flaw allows attackers to craft malicious applications that manipulate this metadata in ways that bypass normal validation checks, enabling privilege escalation attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to device security and user privacy. Attackers who successfully exploit this flaw can execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing all standard security boundaries and access controls. This level of access enables comprehensive system compromise including data exfiltration, persistent backdoor installation, and complete control over device operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the audio driver subsystem, which typically operates with elevated privileges, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access.
The exploitability of CVE-2015-1086 aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques such as privilege escalation and kernel exploitation, where attackers leverage system-level vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to critical resources. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in kernel-space components, as outlined in CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and CWE-119 (Improper Access Control). The issue represents a classic example of how insufficient validation in system-level components can lead to complete system compromise, as the IOKit framework serves as a critical interface between user-space applications and kernel-level drivers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to the patched versions of iOS 8.3 and Apple TV 7.2, which implement proper metadata validation mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect suspicious application behavior and maintain robust patch management processes. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of comprehensive security testing for kernel-level components and the importance of maintaining up-to-date system firmware to protect against known exploitation techniques. Additionally, security professionals should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent the execution of untrusted applications that could potentially leverage such vulnerabilities.