CVE-2015-7075 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
CoreMedia Playback 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 malformed media file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7075 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's CoreMedia playback framework that affected 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 issue resides in the media processing components responsible for handling various multimedia formats and demonstrates the inherent risks associated with complex media playback engines that must process untrusted input from diverse sources. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition, which occurs when the playback engine attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries during media file parsing operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of malformed media files that contain specially crafted data structures designed to trigger memory corruption within the CoreMedia framework. When a user or application attempts to play such maliciously constructed media files, the playback engine fails to properly validate input parameters and buffer boundaries, leading to unpredictable memory access patterns that can result in either arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The flaw specifically manifests during the parsing and decoding phases of media file processing, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite critical memory regions or execute code in the context of the playback process.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7075 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise capabilities that align with ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate system processes and T1059 for command execution. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to complete system compromise when combined with additional attack vectors or privilege escalation techniques. The remote nature of this attack means that malicious media files can be delivered through various channels including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in real-world deployment scenarios. The vulnerability affects all media playback functionality across Apple's ecosystem, including but not limited to audio playback, video streaming, and multimedia file viewing operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7075 primarily focus on immediate system updates and patches provided by Apple, which address the underlying memory corruption issues through improved input validation and buffer boundary checks. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive the necessary security updates promptly. Additional protective measures include network-based filtering to block suspicious media file types, implementation of sandboxing controls for media processing applications, and user education regarding the dangers of opening untrusted media files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in multimedia processing components, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-160 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards for secure software development lifecycle processes. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar memory corruption issues in other media processing frameworks and ensure comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.