CVE-2015-5845 in Watch
Summary
by MITRE
IOKit in the kernel in Apple iOS before 9 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5844 and CVE-2015-5846.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5845 represents a critical kernel-level flaw within Apple's IOKit framework affecting iOS versions prior to 9.0. This vulnerability exists within the kernel's IOKit subsystem which serves as the foundation for device driver management and hardware interaction in Apple's operating systems. The IOKit framework operates in a privileged execution context with direct access to hardware resources, making any vulnerability within this subsystem particularly dangerous as it can potentially enable attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with system-level permissions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within the kernel's IOKit implementation. Attackers can craft malicious applications that exploit memory corruption issues when the kernel processes specific IOKit requests or device interactions. This memory corruption can occur during the handling of device driver communications or hardware abstraction layer operations, where insufficient bounds checking or improper memory deallocation allows attackers to manipulate kernel memory structures. The flaw differs from related vulnerabilities CVE-2015-5844 and CVE-2015-5846, indicating a distinct code path or memory handling mechanism within the same subsystem. This classification aligns with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities commonly found in kernel memory management.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5845 is severe and multifaceted, potentially enabling attackers to achieve complete system compromise without requiring physical access or user interaction beyond installing a malicious application. When exploited, this vulnerability can allow adversaries to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, effectively bypassing iOS security mechanisms including code signing requirements and sandboxing controls. The memory corruption can result in system crashes or more insidiously, enable privilege escalation attacks that grant attackers root-level access to the device. This capability makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to deploy persistent backdoors, extract sensitive data, or establish command and control channels. The vulnerability's presence in the kernel layer means that successful exploitation can result in complete device compromise, potentially leading to data loss, privacy violations, and the ability to monitor user activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5845 primarily focus on immediate system updates and security hardening measures. Apple addressed this vulnerability through iOS 9.0 and subsequent updates, which included patches to the IOKit framework's memory management routines and enhanced input validation mechanisms. Organizations and individuals should prioritize updating to iOS 9.0 or later versions to eliminate exposure to this vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include implementing mobile device management solutions with automated update policies, monitoring for suspicious application behavior, and maintaining awareness of the specific attack vectors associated with kernel-level exploits. Security professionals should also consider implementing runtime application protection measures and memory integrity checks to detect potential exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and kernel-mode exploitation, specifically aligning with tactics such as privilege escalation and defense evasion. The vulnerability's exploitation typically occurs through initial access vectors like malicious applications followed by privilege escalation techniques that leverage kernel-level memory corruption to achieve persistent system control.