CVE-2015-7059 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The ASN.1 decoder in Apple 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 certificate, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-7060 and CVE-2015-7061.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7059 represents a critical security flaw within the ASN.1 decoder implementation across multiple Apple operating systems including OS X versions prior to 10.11.2, tvOS versions before 9.1, and watchOS versions before 2.1. This weakness specifically targets the handling of certificate data structures that follow the Abstract Syntax Notation One standard, which is fundamental to the X.509 certificate format used extensively in secure communications. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the certificate parsing logic, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by remote adversaries. The flaw is classified under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and demonstrates how improper bounds checking in cryptographic libraries can lead to memory corruption vulnerabilities. The security implications extend beyond simple certificate validation as ASN.1 decoders form the foundation for numerous security protocols including SSL/TLS, PKI operations, and secure email communications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious actor crafts a specially formatted certificate that triggers memory corruption within the ASN.1 parsing routines. The attack leverages the inherent complexity of ASN.1 encoding rules where malformed or oversized data structures can cause buffer overflows or heap corruption when processed by the vulnerable decoder. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes exploitation of vulnerabilities in software libraries, and demonstrates how cryptographic protocol implementations can become attack surfaces when proper input sanitization is lacking. The memory corruption can manifest in various ways including application crashes, memory leaks, or more critically, allow attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the affected system processes. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that attackers do not need physical access or local privileges to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7059 extends across multiple Apple platforms and creates significant risks for organizations relying on these systems for secure communications and authentication services. When exploited, the vulnerability can compromise the integrity of certificate-based authentication systems, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate services or bypass security controls. The memory corruption issues can lead to system instability and denial of service conditions that may affect critical infrastructure components. Organizations using Apple devices in enterprise environments face particular risks as the vulnerability could be leveraged to establish persistent access points or to undermine trust in digital certificates used for secure communications. The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2015-7060 and CVE-2015-7061 demonstrates a pattern of similar issues within Apple's cryptographic libraries, suggesting systemic weaknesses in the ASN.1 parsing implementation that require comprehensive remediation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7059 focus primarily on immediate system updates and patches provided by Apple to address the specific memory handling issues within their ASN.1 decoders. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple platforms to their latest supported versions, particularly noting that the vulnerability affects multiple product lines including desktop operating systems, television operating systems, and wearable devices. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual certificate processing activities and implementation of certificate pinning mechanisms where possible to reduce reliance on potentially compromised certificate authorities. Network security controls should be enhanced to monitor for suspicious certificate-related traffic patterns, and system administrators should implement regular vulnerability assessments to identify any remaining unpatched systems. The remediation process should also include reviewing certificate trust stores and ensuring that only trusted certificate authorities are permitted to issue certificates within the organization's security domains. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems capable of identifying anomalous certificate processing behavior can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts.