CVE-2016-1765 in Xcode
Summary
by MITRE
otool in Apple Xcode before 7.3 allows local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1765 affects the otool utility within Apple Xcode versions prior to 7.3, representing a significant security flaw that could enable local attackers to escalate privileges or disrupt system operations. This issue stems from improper handling of input data within the otool component, which is commonly used for examining object files and their contents. The vulnerability manifests through unspecified vectors that can lead to memory corruption, ultimately resulting in application crashes or potentially unauthorized privilege elevation. The flaw exists within the tool's parsing mechanisms and memory management functions, creating opportunities for malicious exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can occur when programs access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. Additionally, the memory corruption aspects relate to CWE-122, which covers buffer overflow conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The otool utility's failure to properly validate input parameters creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate memory structures through crafted inputs, potentially leading to privilege escalation or denial of service scenarios. This represents a classic example of how seemingly benign command-line tools can contain critical security flaws that affect the entire development environment.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to developers working within Apple's ecosystem, as Xcode is fundamental to iOS and macOS application development. Attackers could leverage this flaw to execute malicious code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the entire development machine or accessing sensitive source code repositories. The denial of service component means that legitimate development activities could be disrupted through application crashes, affecting productivity and potentially exposing the system to further attacks. The vulnerability's local nature suggests that attackers would need physical or network access to the development machine, but this still represents a critical threat vector given that development environments often contain sensitive information and privileged access tokens.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2016-1765 involves immediate upgrading to Apple Xcode version 7.3 or later, which includes patches addressing the memory corruption issues within otool. Organizations should also implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all development machines receive security updates promptly. Additional protective measures include restricting local access to development environments, implementing network segmentation, and conducting regular security assessments of development tools. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through compromised development tools. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to unauthorized access to development environments and implement logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security training for development teams is also crucial to prevent social engineering attacks that might exploit this vulnerability by gaining access to development machines.