CVE-2015-7040 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
The kernel in Apple iOS before 9.2, OS X before 10.11.2, tvOS before 9.1, and watchOS before 2.1 allows attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted app, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-7041, CVE-2015-7042, and CVE-2015-7043.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7040 represents a critical kernel-level flaw affecting multiple Apple operating systems including iOS versions prior to 9.2, OS X versions before 10.11.2, tvOS versions before 9.1, and watchOS versions before 2.1. This vulnerability resides within the kernel component of Apple's operating systems, which serves as the core foundation for system operations and security enforcement. The kernel acts as the central hub for resource management, process scheduling, and security policy enforcement, making any weakness in this component potentially catastrophic for system stability and security. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through the execution of a specially crafted application that triggers an improper handling of system resources or memory management within the kernel space.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a flaw in how the kernel processes certain inputs or operations from user-space applications, leading to a condition where the system becomes unresponsive or crashes entirely. Unlike other related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2015-7041, CVE-2015-7042, and CVE-2015-7043 which may have different attack vectors or exploitation methods, CVE-2015-7040 specifically targets kernel-level resource management mechanisms. This flaw typically manifests as an improper handling of memory allocations, buffer operations, or system call processing that results in system instability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-119 which deals with improper access to memory locations, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers exploit for privilege escalation and system compromise through kernel exploits. The attack requires minimal privileges since it operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by malicious applications without requiring elevated permissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7040 extends beyond simple system crashes, as it enables attackers to perform denial of service attacks that can render devices completely unusable. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause complete system lockups, kernel panics, or memory corruption that prevents normal system operation until manual intervention or device restart occurs. The affected systems are particularly vulnerable in environments where users may encounter malicious applications, such as in enterprise settings where untrusted applications are installed or in public Wi-Fi environments where users might download compromised software. The vulnerability affects all Apple devices running the specified operating system versions, creating a widespread impact across mobile, desktop, and embedded platforms. Organizations and individual users face significant risk of service disruption, data loss, and potential compromise of device functionality, particularly in mission-critical environments where device availability is paramount.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7040 primarily focus on immediate system updates and patch management to address the kernel-level flaw. Apple released security updates for all affected operating systems including iOS 9.2, OS X 10.11.2, tvOS 9.1, and watchOS 2.1, which contain patches to fix the kernel vulnerability. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management policies to ensure all affected devices receive updates promptly, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely through malicious applications. Additional mitigations include implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications, monitoring for suspicious system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, and maintaining regular system backups to facilitate recovery in case of successful attacks. Network security measures such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for unusual patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while security awareness training should be conducted to educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-120 and ATT&CK technique T1068 emphasizes the need for layered security approaches that address both the kernel-level exploit and the broader threat landscape.