CVE-2015-7060 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-2015-7059 and CVE-2015-7061.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7060 represents a critical flaw in the ASN.1 decoder implementation within Apple's operating systems, specifically affecting macOS versions prior to 10.11.2, tvOS versions prior to 9.1, and watchOS versions prior to 2.1. This vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can be exploited remotely through maliciously crafted certificates, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where certificate validation occurs automatically. The flaw demonstrates the inherent risks associated with complex cryptographic protocol implementations and their potential for exploitation when input validation is insufficient.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of ASN.1 (Abstract Syntax Notation One) encoded data structures within Apple's certificate processing pipeline. ASN.1 is a standard interface description language used extensively in cryptographic protocols including X.509 certificates, and the decoder's failure to properly validate bounds during parsing operations creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layout through carefully constructed certificate payloads. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are commonly exploited in certificate parsing attacks. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the decoder encounters malformed ASN.1 structures that cause it to write data beyond allocated memory boundaries or read from invalid memory locations.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7060 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full remote code execution capabilities, making it a severe threat to affected systems. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by presenting malicious certificates to vulnerable systems during certificate validation processes, which occur during various network operations including secure web browsing, email communication, and system authentication procedures. The memory corruption aspects of this vulnerability can lead to unpredictable system behavior, application crashes, or more critically, allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected process. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and script injection, and T1068, which involves exploit for privilege escalation, as the initial compromise can lead to broader system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7060 primarily involve immediate patching of affected systems to the recommended versions that contain fixed ASN.1 decoder implementations. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple devices including desktop computers, mobile devices, and set-top boxes running the vulnerable operating system versions. Additional protective measures include implementing certificate pinning where possible, monitoring for unusual certificate validation activities, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of proper input validation in cryptographic libraries and highlights the need for thorough security testing of protocol implementations. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, particularly in enterprise environments where certificate validation occurs across multiple system components and network boundaries.