CVE-2015-7053 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
ImageIO in Apple iOS before 9.2, OS X before 10.11.2, tvOS before 9.1, and watchOS before 2.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7053 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's ImageIO framework affecting multiple operating systems including iOS versions prior to 9.2, macOS versions before 10.11.2, tvOS versions before 9.1, and watchOS versions before 2.1. This vulnerability resides in the image processing components that handle various image file formats, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through the processing of maliciously crafted image files. The flaw enables remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution or cause system crashes through carefully constructed image data that triggers memory corruption during the decoding process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the ImageIO framework's image parsing routines. When the system attempts to decode malicious image files, the framework fails to properly validate boundaries and handle memory allocation for image data structures, leading to buffer overflows or heap corruption conditions. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing of image metadata and pixel data, where attacker-controlled inputs can manipulate memory layout and execution flow.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7053 extends beyond simple denial of service to include full system compromise capabilities. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems without requiring user interaction, as the exploitation occurs during automatic image processing when files are opened or displayed. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in email attachments, web content, or file sharing scenarios where users might unknowingly trigger the malicious image processing. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically shell and scripting interpreters, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute commands with system privileges. Additionally, the vulnerability could facilitate privilege escalation attacks given the elevated privileges typically associated with image processing services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7053 primarily involve applying the official security patches released by Apple through their software update mechanisms. System administrators should prioritize deployment of iOS 9.2, macOS 10.11.2, tvOS 9.1, and watchOS 2.1 updates to address the vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious image file patterns, though this approach may not be comprehensive given the complexity of image format parsing. Additional protective measures include disabling automatic image preview in email clients, implementing strict file type validation for image uploads, and monitoring for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices around memory management and input validation, particularly for frameworks handling untrusted data from external sources, and demonstrates the critical need for regular security updates and vulnerability management programs to protect against such sophisticated attack vectors.