CVE-2015-6974 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
IOHIDFamily in Apple iOS before 9.1, OS X before 10.11.1, and watchOS before 2.0.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6974 resides within the IOHIDFamily component of Apple's operating systems, affecting iOS versions prior to 9.1, macOS versions before 10.11.1, and watchOS versions before 2.0.1. This represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables attackers to execute arbitrary code within a privileged context or cause system-wide denial of service conditions through the manipulation of specially crafted applications. The IOHIDFamily serves as a core kernel extension responsible for handling human interface device communications including keyboards, mice, and other input peripherals, making it a critical subsystem for system security and stability.
Technical analysis reveals that the vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within the IOHIDFamily kernel extension, specifically related to how the system processes input device data structures. The flaw manifests when a malicious application presents crafted input device descriptors or communication protocols that trigger memory corruption conditions during kernel processing. This memory corruption can result in arbitrary code execution with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing standard security boundaries and allowing attackers to gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level where the IOHIDFamily processes device communication requests, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring user interaction or elevated privileges beyond initial application execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a fundamental weakness in Apple's input device handling architecture that could be leveraged for comprehensive system compromise. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially install persistent backdoors, modify system files, access sensitive user data, or establish covert communication channels with remote command and control servers. The memory corruption aspect also creates opportunities for denial of service attacks that could crash system services or render devices inoperable, affecting both user productivity and system reliability. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where mobile device management systems rely on secure input handling for device authentication and security enforcement.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6974 primarily focus on immediate system updates and patches provided by Apple to address the underlying memory handling issues within the IOHIDFamily component. Organizations should prioritize deployment of iOS 9.1, macOS 10.11.1, and watchOS 2.0.1 updates across all affected devices to eliminate the vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted applications, monitoring for suspicious device communication patterns, and maintaining comprehensive system monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security professionals should also consider network-based detection mechanisms that can identify malicious input device communication patterns and implement device hardening configurations that restrict input device access for applications that do not require such functionality. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a technique that could be categorized under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics, specifically targeting kernel-level access and system integrity compromise.