CVE-2015-1118 in MacOS X
Summary
by MITRE
libnetcore in Apple iOS before 8.3, Apple OS X before 10.10.3, and Apple TV before 7.2 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted configuration profile.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1118 resides within the libnetcore component of Apple's operating systems, affecting iOS versions prior to 8.3, OS X versions prior to 10.10.3, and Apple TV versions prior to 7.2. This flaw represents a critical memory corruption issue that can be exploited through maliciously crafted configuration profiles, demonstrating the inherent risks associated with improper input validation in system-level networking components. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of network configuration management and memory safety, where legitimate system components become susceptible to malicious manipulation through carefully constructed profile data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of configuration profile data within the libnetcore library, which is responsible for processing network configuration settings in Apple's operating environments. When a maliciously crafted profile is processed, the library fails to properly validate input parameters, leading to memory corruption that ultimately results in application crashes or system instability. This memory corruption occurs during the parsing and handling of network configuration data, where buffer overflows or invalid memory access patterns are triggered by malformed profile attributes. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read errors that can lead to memory corruption. Attackers can leverage this flaw by creating configuration profiles containing malicious data structures that exploit the lack of proper bounds checking in the libnetcore processing pipeline.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1118 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it can potentially be weaponized to create more severe system instability or even provide a foothold for further exploitation. When applications crash due to this memory corruption, users experience service disruption and potential loss of network connectivity, while the underlying system instability could be leveraged by sophisticated attackers to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Apple platforms including mobile devices, desktop operating systems, and set-top boxes creates a broad attack surface that security professionals must consider when implementing protective measures. From an attacker's perspective, the low barrier to exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as it can be triggered through legitimate configuration management channels without requiring advanced technical skills or specialized tools.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1118 should prioritize immediate system updates to the patched versions of affected Apple operating systems, as these releases contain the necessary code modifications to properly validate configuration profile data. Organizations should implement strict profile validation policies and avoid deploying untrusted configuration profiles to prevent exploitation attempts, while security monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual application crash patterns that might indicate exploitation. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional layers of protection including sandboxing mechanisms and privilege separation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The remediation process aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which addresses command and scripting interpreter usage, and T1068, which covers exploit for privilege escalation, as organizations must address both the immediate vulnerability and potential secondary exploitation vectors that could arise from system instability caused by memory corruption. System administrators should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify any remaining unpatched systems within their environments, as the interconnected nature of Apple's ecosystem means that a single vulnerable device could compromise network-wide security posture.