CVE-2016-1760 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
The XPC Services API in LaunchServices in Apple iOS before 9.3 allows attackers to bypass intended event-handler restrictions and modify an arbitrary app's events via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1760 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's iOS operating system affecting versions prior to 9.3. This issue resides within the XPC Services API of the LaunchServices framework, which serves as a crucial component for inter-process communication and service management within the iOS ecosystem. The vulnerability specifically targets the event-handler restrictions that are designed to prevent unauthorized modification of application events, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass these security controls.
The technical nature of this flaw involves improper validation of XPC service communications within the LaunchServices framework. When applications register event handlers or attempt to modify application events through the XPC Services API, the system should enforce strict access controls to ensure that only authorized processes can modify specific application events. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to craft specially designed applications that can exploit weaknesses in the permission checking mechanisms, effectively enabling arbitrary code execution and modification of application events without proper authorization. This represents a breakdown in the principle of least privilege and mandatory access controls that are fundamental to iOS security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate application behavior at a fundamental level. By bypassing intended event-handler restrictions, malicious actors can modify application events, potentially altering application functionality, injecting malicious code, or disrupting normal application operations. This vulnerability could be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where iOS devices handle sensitive corporate data, as it could enable attackers to compromise applications that process confidential information or perform critical business functions. The ability to modify arbitrary app events creates a persistent threat vector that could be leveraged for data exfiltration, application hijacking, or establishment of persistent backdoors.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the security principle that access controls must be enforced at all levels of system operation. The flaw demonstrates how insufficient input validation and improper privilege checking in system-level APIs can create exploitable conditions that undermine the entire security model of a mobile operating system. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through API abuse and persistence mechanisms through application event manipulation. The vulnerability also reflects broader concerns about sandboxing effectiveness in mobile operating systems and highlights the importance of comprehensive security testing for system-level APIs that handle inter-process communication. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to iOS 9.3 or later, monitoring for suspicious application behavior, and reviewing application event handling mechanisms to ensure proper access controls remain intact.