CVE-2015-7041 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-2015-7040, CVE-2015-7042, and CVE-2015-7043.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2024
This vulnerability resides within the kernel components of Apple's operating systems, specifically affecting iOS versions prior to 9.2, OS X versions prior to 10.11.2, tvOS versions prior to 9.1, and watchOS versions prior to 2.1. The flaw represents a denial of service condition that can be triggered by a maliciously crafted application, distinguishing it from other related vulnerabilities in the same vulnerability family. The kernel-level nature of this issue indicates it operates at the core of the operating system where critical system functions are managed, making it particularly concerning from a security perspective. The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks present when kernel code fails to properly validate input or handle specific conditions, potentially allowing unauthorized system disruption. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of kernel-level exploits that can compromise system stability and availability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a specific condition within the kernel that becomes exploitable when processing data from a crafted application. While the exact technical details of the flaw remain undisclosed in the public CVE description, the nature of kernel-level denial of service vulnerabilities typically involves buffer overflows, improper input validation, or race conditions that can cause system crashes or lockups. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in memory safety and improper access to memory, and may also relate to CWE-476, which covers null pointer dereferences that can lead to system instability. The distinction from CVE-2015-7040, CVE-2015-7042, and CVE-2015-7043 indicates that this represents a unique code path or condition within the kernel's processing logic that requires specific exploitation techniques.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to remotely or locally cause system-wide denial of service conditions that can render affected devices unusable. The attack vector through a crafted app suggests that users may inadvertently trigger the vulnerability simply by installing or running malicious applications, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter untrusted software. The potential consequences include complete system crashes, reboot loops, or other forms of system instability that prevent normal operation of the affected devices. This vulnerability can be exploited in various contexts including mobile device management scenarios, enterprise environments, or personal device usage where users may encounter malicious applications. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect broader deployment scenarios where system availability is critical for business operations or user productivity.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category, which covers network denial of service attacks, and potentially T1059 for execution through legitimate system processes. Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment as the primary defense mechanism, as Apple released updates to address this specific kernel vulnerability in the affected versions. System administrators and users should prioritize updating to the patched versions of their respective operating systems to eliminate the risk. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, monitoring for suspicious application behavior, and maintaining awareness of potential social engineering attacks that might deliver malicious applications. Network segmentation and endpoint protection solutions can provide additional layers of defense, though the kernel-level nature of the vulnerability means that complete protection requires proper system patching. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the potential risks associated with delayed patch deployment in enterprise environments.