CVE-2015-1094 in Watch OS
Summary
by MITRE
IOAcceleratorFamily in Apple iOS before 8.3 and Apple TV before 7.2 allows attackers to obtain sensitive information about kernel memory via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1094 resides within the IOAcceleratorFamily component of Apple's operating systems, specifically affecting iOS versions prior to 8.3 and Apple TV versions prior to 7.2. This flaw represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability that enables malicious actors to extract sensitive kernel memory information through carefully crafted applications. The IOAcceleratorFamily serves as a crucial framework for hardware acceleration capabilities within Apple's ecosystem, managing graphics processing and other compute-intensive operations that require direct hardware access. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management practices within this kernel extension, creating an avenue for unauthorized memory inspection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper handling of memory addresses and kernel object references within the IOAcceleratorFamily framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness by developing malicious applications that leverage specific API calls or memory access patterns to probe kernel memory spaces. The flaw operates at the kernel level, meaning that successful exploitation can potentially reveal sensitive information including memory layout details, kernel object addresses, and other confidential data structures that should remain protected from user-space applications. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and represents a classic case of insufficient protection of sensitive information in kernel space.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1094 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked kernel memory information can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain insights into kernel memory organization that would typically be protected by kernel memory management systems. This information can be instrumental in developing further exploits, such as kernel address space layout randomization (ASLR) bypass techniques or privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed systems including mobile devices and set-top boxes creates significant risk for organizations and individuals who rely on Apple's security model for protection. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as it provides the initial information needed for more advanced exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to the patched versions of iOS 8.3 and Apple TV 7.2, which address the underlying memory management issues in the IOAcceleratorFamily component. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected Apple devices receive the necessary security updates. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious application behavior and implementing application whitelisting policies can provide additional defense layers. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel memory protection mechanisms and proper input validation in system frameworks. Security professionals should also consider conducting vulnerability assessments of their Apple device fleets to identify and remediate similar issues. From a compliance standpoint, this vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust security monitoring procedures to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in operating system components.