CVE-2015-7022 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
The Telephony subsystem in Apple iOS before 9.1 allows attackers to obtain sensitive call-status information via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7022 resides within Apple iOS telephony subsystem, specifically affecting versions prior to iOS 9.1. This security flaw represents a significant privacy concern as it enables malicious applications to access sensitive call-status information that should remain protected from unauthorized third-party access. The issue stems from insufficient access controls and information disclosure mechanisms within the telephony framework that governs how call states and related metadata are managed and exposed to applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in the iOS telephony APIs that permit crafted applications to query and receive unauthorized access to call status information including call initiation times, duration, participant details, and other metadata associated with telephone communications. This represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability where proper access controls fail to prevent unauthorized data retrieval. The flaw operates at the system-level interface where telephony services interact with application frameworks, allowing malicious apps to exploit gaps in the permission model and security boundaries that should normally isolate sensitive telephony data from general application access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to encompass potential security threats including social engineering attacks, surveillance capabilities, and unauthorized monitoring of communication patterns. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to build applications that silently collect and transmit call logs, participant information, and communication timing data to remote servers without user knowledge or consent. This capability directly violates fundamental security principles of data isolation and user privacy protection that are essential for mobile operating systems. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it affects core telephony functionality that users rely on for private communication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where sensitive information is transmitted.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1056.001 for input validation and T1074.001 for data staging through the unauthorized collection and transmission of sensitive telephony data. The flaw represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, where applications should not be granted access to telephony metadata beyond what is necessary for their core functionality. Mitigation strategies must include immediate system updates to iOS 9.1 or later versions where Apple has implemented proper access controls and API restrictions. Additionally, users should avoid installing untrusted applications and maintain current security patches to prevent exploitation. Organizations should conduct security assessments to identify potentially compromised devices and implement monitoring for suspicious application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining robust access controls and proper information flow management in mobile operating systems where personal communication data is processed and stored.