CVE-2015-7064 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
OpenGL 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 web site, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-7066.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2024
This vulnerability resides in the OpenGL graphics rendering system within Apple's operating systems, specifically affecting iOS versions prior to 9.2, macOS versions before 10.11.2, tvOS before 9.1, and watchOS before 2.1. The flaw represents a critical memory corruption issue that can be exploited through malicious web content, making it particularly dangerous in web browsing contexts where users frequently encounter untrusted content. The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks associated with graphics processing libraries that handle untrusted input data, as OpenGL is widely used for rendering complex visual content in web browsers and applications. This particular weakness allows remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution or cause system crashes, representing a significant escalation from typical web-based vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of malformed graphics data within the OpenGL subsystem when processing web content. When a user visits a malicious website containing specially crafted graphics elements, the OpenGL renderer fails to properly validate input parameters, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The flaw operates at the intersection of web rendering and graphics processing, where web browsers delegate complex visual rendering tasks to OpenGL libraries, creating an attack surface that combines both browser security boundaries and graphics driver vulnerabilities. The memory corruption occurs during the processing of WebGL or other graphics-intensive web content, where the renderer's input validation mechanisms are insufficient to prevent malicious data from corrupting critical memory structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems with the privileges of the rendering process. This represents a significant privilege escalation vector that could potentially allow attackers to gain full system control, particularly when combined with other vulnerabilities or when targeting systems with less restrictive security configurations. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised websites that could be encountered during normal browsing activities. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability demonstrates the challenges of securing graphics processing components that must handle diverse input formats while maintaining system stability and security boundaries.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to the patched versions of Apple's operating systems, as the fix addresses the underlying memory handling issues in the OpenGL subsystem. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected devices receive updates promptly, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple devices may be running vulnerable versions. Network administrators should consider implementing web filtering solutions that can detect and block known malicious websites, though this approach provides only partial protection since the vulnerability can be exploited through various legitimate websites that may have been compromised. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of browser sandboxing mechanisms and the need for regular security audits of graphics processing libraries, as this flaw represents a category of vulnerabilities that can persist across multiple operating system versions and device types. Security professionals should monitor for related vulnerabilities that may affect similar graphics processing components and maintain awareness of the ATT&CK framework's techniques for code execution through graphics processing, particularly T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.