CVE-2015-7030 in Xcode
Summary
by MITRE
The Swift implementation in Apple Xcode before 7.1 mishandles type conversion, which has unspecified impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7030 represents a critical type conversion flaw within Apple Xcode's Swift implementation prior to version 7.1. This issue stems from how the integrated development environment handles type coercion and implicit conversions during Swift code compilation and execution. The vulnerability affects developers who rely on Xcode for Swift application development, creating potential security risks that extend beyond the development environment itself. The unspecified nature of the impact and attack vectors suggests that the flaw could potentially enable various malicious activities depending on how developers utilize Swift's type system within their applications.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of type conversion operations within Xcode's Swift compiler and runtime environment. When developers write Swift code that involves implicit type conversions or complex type relationships, the flawed implementation may not properly validate or process these operations, leading to unpredictable behavior that could be exploited by attackers. This type conversion mishandling typically occurs during the compilation phase when Xcode processes Swift source code, potentially allowing for memory corruption or unexpected program execution paths. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic software security issue where insufficient input validation and type safety mechanisms create exploitable conditions within the development toolchain itself.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7030 extends significantly beyond traditional runtime vulnerabilities since it affects the development environment where applications are created. Attackers who gain access to a developer's machine running an affected version of Xcode could potentially inject malicious code into applications during the build process, creating supply chain attacks that compromise end-user systems. This vulnerability particularly threatens mobile application development where Xcode is used to create iOS applications, as the resulting malicious code could be distributed through official app stores. The attack surface includes not only direct exploitation but also indirect consequences such as compromised development environments that could be used to create malicious applications or steal sensitive development credentials and intellectual property.
Organizations and developers should immediately upgrade to Xcode 7.1 or later versions to remediate this vulnerability, as Apple released a security update specifically addressing the type conversion issues in Swift implementation. System administrators should implement strict controls over development environment access and regularly audit development machines for unauthorized Xcode installations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper handling of size constraints, and may also relate to CWE-691, concerning inadequate protection of code or data against malicious input. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged for initial access through supply chain compromises or privilege escalation via compromised development environments, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with robust security perimeters but vulnerable development practices. Organizations should also consider implementing code review processes that specifically check for type conversion patterns that might trigger similar issues in other development environments or runtime systems.