CVE-2015-7046 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
The Sandbox feature in xnu in Apple iOS before 9.2, OS X before 10.11.2, tvOS before 9.1, and watchOS before 2.1 does not properly implement privilege separation, which allows attackers to bypass the ASLR protection mechanism via a crafted app with root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7046 resides within the xnu kernel of apple operating systems, specifically affecting versions prior to the named security updates. This issue fundamentally undermines the security architecture by exploiting a flaw in the sandbox implementation mechanism that is designed to isolate applications and prevent unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the privilege separation model that Apple employs to protect system integrity and user data confidentiality.
The technical flaw manifests through improper implementation of privilege separation within the xnu kernel's sandbox feature, which is intended to create isolated execution environments for applications. This weakness allows malicious actors to craft specially designed applications that can escalate privileges beyond normal sandbox boundaries. The vulnerability specifically targets the Address Space Layout Randomization protection mechanism, which is a crucial defense against exploitation techniques that rely on predictable memory addresses. When the sandbox fails to properly enforce privilege separation, it creates an avenue for attackers to bypass ASLR protections that are fundamental to modern exploit mitigation strategies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of affected apple operating systems. Attackers with root privileges can leverage this flaw to circumvent multiple layers of system protection, potentially gaining access to sensitive system resources, user data, and privileged information. The vulnerability affects multiple apple platforms including mobile ios, desktop os x, tvos, and watchos, creating a widespread security risk across apple's ecosystem. This cross-platform impact amplifies the potential damage as attackers can target the most vulnerable system components across various device categories.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy under attack technique 0079, which focuses on privilege escalation through kernel vulnerabilities. From a weakness classification perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and CWE-119, which covers weak buffer access protection. The flaw demonstrates how insufficient privilege separation in kernel-level components can create persistent security weaknesses that undermine the entire system architecture. Organizations and users affected by this vulnerability face significant risk of unauthorized system access, data breaches, and potential full system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of apple's security patches and updates for all affected operating system versions. System administrators should prioritize patching across all affected platforms including ios 9.2, os x 10.11.2, tvos 9.1, and watchos 2.1. Additionally, organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider temporary restrictions on application installation from untrusted sources. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and demonstrates how kernel-level privilege separation flaws can have cascading effects on overall system security posture. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in system architecture and ensure comprehensive protection against sophisticated exploitation techniques.