CVE-2015-1096 in Watch OS
Summary
by MITRE
IOHIDFamily in Apple iOS before 8.3, Apple OS X before 10.10.3, 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 • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1096 resides within the IOHIDFamily component of Apple's operating systems, representing a significant information disclosure flaw that affects multiple platforms including iOS versions prior to 8.3, macOS versions before 10.10.3, and Apple TV firmware before version 7.2. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and memory handling within the HID (Human Interface Device) subsystem that processes device communication protocols. The vulnerability manifests when a malicious application attempts to interact with kernel memory structures through crafted input sequences that exploit improper bounds checking in the IOHIDFamily driver.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves leveraging improper memory access patterns within the kernel space where IOHIDFamily operates. Attackers can craft specific applications that trigger memory read operations on kernel addresses that should remain protected from user-space access. This occurs due to missing validation of device report data structures and insufficient sanitization of input parameters passed to kernel memory regions. The flaw essentially allows unauthorized memory reads from kernel space, enabling attackers to extract sensitive information about kernel memory layout, including addresses of kernel functions, data structures, and potentially other confidential information that could aid in more sophisticated attacks. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation leading to information exposure.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1096 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the extracted kernel memory information can serve as a foundation for more advanced exploitation techniques. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains insights into kernel memory organization that can be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks, bypassing kernel protections, or crafting more sophisticated exploits that target specific kernel functions. The vulnerability creates a potential pathway for attackers to map kernel memory layouts, identify security mechanisms, and potentially discover other vulnerabilities within the same subsystem. This information disclosure weakness contributes to the broader category of kernel exploitation techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Tactic of Privilege Escalation and Defense Evasion. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in mobile and embedded environments where kernel memory access is typically restricted and protected.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1096 primarily focus on applying official security updates from Apple that patch the IOHIDFamily implementation. System administrators and users should immediately upgrade to the affected operating system versions that contain the necessary patches, specifically iOS 8.3, macOS 10.10.3, and Apple TV 7.2 or later. Additionally, organizations should implement application whitelisting policies to prevent untrusted applications from running, as the vulnerability requires a malicious application to be present on the system. The patch addresses the underlying memory access control issues by implementing proper bounds checking and input sanitization within the IOHIDFamily driver. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous device communication patterns and unusual memory access attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network security controls should also be enhanced to detect potential malicious applications attempting to establish unauthorized kernel memory access patterns, particularly in enterprise environments where device management and security policies are critical for maintaining system integrity.