CVE-2015-5937 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
ImageIO in Apple iOS before 9.1, OS X before 10.11.1, and watchOS before 2.0.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via crafted metadata in an image, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5935, CVE-2015-5936, and CVE-2015-5939.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5937 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's ImageIO framework that affects multiple operating systems including iOS versions prior to 9.1, macOS versions before 10.11.1, and watchOS versions before 2.0.1. This vulnerability resides in the image processing subsystem that handles various image formats and their associated metadata, making it a prime target for remote exploitation. The flaw specifically manifests when the ImageIO framework processes crafted metadata within image files, creating conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system denial of service. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of image parsing and memory management, where improper bounds checking and memory handling during metadata processing creates exploitable conditions that attackers can leverage remotely.
The technical root cause of CVE-2015-5937 stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the ImageIO framework's metadata parsing routines. When processing image files containing maliciously crafted metadata, the system fails to properly validate array indices and memory allocations, leading to buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds writes. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the image processing pipeline that is frequently accessed by various applications and system components, including web browsers, email clients, and image viewing applications. Attackers can craft malicious image files with specially designed metadata that triggers the memory corruption when the system attempts to parse and render the image, effectively creating a remote code execution vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system compromise to encompass significant security implications across Apple's ecosystem. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, and malicious websites that serve crafted images to unsuspecting users. The memory corruption can result in system crashes, application instability, or more critically, allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to establish persistent access or escalate privileges. The widespread use of image processing within Apple's applications means that the attack surface is extensive, potentially affecting millions of devices and users across different operating environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5937 primarily focus on immediate system updates and application-level protections. Apple released security updates for iOS 9.1, macOS 10.11.1, and watchOS 2.0.1 that address the underlying memory corruption issues through improved input validation and memory management practices. Organizations should prioritize patch deployment across all affected systems and implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious image files. Additionally, security professionals should consider implementing sandboxing measures for image processing applications and monitor for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in image processing libraries, serving as a reminder of the critical security considerations when handling untrusted binary data in multimedia applications.