CVE-2015-5899 in Watch
Summary
by MITRE
libpthread in the kernel in Apple iOS before 9 allows local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5899 resides within the libpthread library component of Apple iOS kernel implementations prior to version 9. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that affects the underlying threading mechanisms used by the operating system. The issue manifests through unspecified vectors that exploit the pthread library's handling of concurrent execution threads, creating potential pathways for malicious exploitation. The vulnerability's classification as affecting the kernel-level libpthread component indicates it operates at a fundamental system level where thread management and synchronization occur, making it particularly dangerous as it can impact core operating system functionality and security boundaries.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves memory corruption issues that arise during the processing of pthread operations within the iOS kernel environment. Memory corruption vulnerabilities typically occur when software writes data to memory locations outside the intended bounds of allocated memory regions, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior including privilege escalation or system crashes. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack surfaces within the pthread implementation could trigger this memory corruption, making the vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against as it may be exploitable through various code paths. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, though the specific nature of kernel-level memory corruption often involves more complex exploitation scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5899 extends beyond simple denial of service to encompass potential privilege escalation capabilities that could allow local attackers to elevate their system privileges. This represents a significant security risk as local users who might already have limited system access could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain administrative or root-level privileges. The memory corruption aspect also creates opportunities for denial of service conditions where system stability could be compromised through controlled memory manipulation. Such vulnerabilities are particularly concerning in mobile environments where users may have less sophisticated security awareness and where the attack surface includes various applications and system services that utilize pthread functionality for concurrent processing.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve upgrading to Apple iOS version 9 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory corruption issues within the libpthread implementation. System administrators and security professionals should prioritize this update across all affected devices to prevent exploitation. Additionally, monitoring for unusual system behavior or memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts should be implemented. The vulnerability's nature as a kernel-level threading issue suggests that defensive measures should include runtime integrity checks and memory protection mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting and privilege separation techniques to limit the potential impact even if exploitation occurs. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would map to privilege escalation techniques and defense evasion tactics, as attackers could leverage it to maintain persistent access or avoid detection mechanisms within the system.