CVE-2015-3793 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
CFPreferences in Apple iOS before 8.4.1 allows attackers to bypass the third-party app-sandbox protection mechanism and read arbitrary managed preferences via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3793 represents a critical sandbox bypass flaw in Apple iOS versions prior to 8.4.1 affecting the CFPreferences framework. This issue fundamentally undermines the security model designed to isolate third-party applications from each other and from system-level resources. The CFPreferences system serves as the central preference management mechanism in macOS and iOS, handling the storage and retrieval of application settings and configuration data. When exploited, this vulnerability allows malicious actors to circumvent the sandbox protection that normally restricts applications from accessing each other's data or system preferences, creating a significant breach in the operating system's security architecture.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a crafted malicious application that leverages improper access controls within the CFPreferences framework. Attackers can manipulate the preference system to read managed preferences that should normally be restricted to specific applications or system processes. This flaw stems from inadequate validation of preference access requests and insufficient enforcement of sandbox boundaries. The vulnerability specifically targets the way the system handles preference domain access, allowing unauthorized applications to query and retrieve preference data belonging to other applications or system components. This represents a classic case of insufficient access control where the system fails to properly validate the identity and permissions of requesting applications before granting access to sensitive preference information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to gather comprehensive information about other applications and system configurations. By accessing managed preferences, adversaries can discover application-specific settings, user preferences, and potentially sensitive configuration data that could aid in further exploitation attempts. This information gathering capability provides attackers with valuable intelligence for crafting more sophisticated attacks against the targeted system or other applications. The vulnerability essentially transforms the sandboxed application environment into a potentially exploitable landscape where inter-application boundaries become porous, allowing for reconnaissance and privilege escalation activities. Organizations using affected iOS versions face significant risk of data exposure and potential compromise of user privacy across their mobile device fleet.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3793 primarily focus on immediate system updates and enhanced monitoring of application behavior. Apple addressed this vulnerability through iOS 8.4.1, which implemented proper access control enforcement within the CFPreferences framework. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the security update to protect against exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing mobile device management solutions with application whitelisting capabilities can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting which applications can be installed and executed on managed devices. Network monitoring should include detection of suspicious application behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around preference access requests. From a compliance standpoint, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically addressing inadequate access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to system resources. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and credential access domains, where adversaries seek to bypass system protections to gain unauthorized access to information resources.