CVE-2016-1803 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
CoreCapture in Apple iOS before 9.3.2, OS X before 10.11.5, tvOS before 9.2.1, and watchOS before 2.2.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1803 resides within Apple's CoreCapture framework, a critical component responsible for handling media capture operations across iOS, macOS, and related operating systems. This flaw represents a serious security weakness that affects multiple Apple platforms, including iOS versions prior to 9.3.2, macOS versions before 10.11.5, tvOS versions before 9.2.1, and watchOS versions before 2.2.1. The vulnerability manifests as a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs during the processing of crafted malicious applications, creating a dangerous attack surface that could be exploited by remote adversaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the CoreCapture subsystem. When a malicious application attempts to utilize the media capture functionality, the framework fails to properly validate the memory references associated with the capture operations. This validation failure results in a NULL pointer dereference, which can be leveraged by attackers to either execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges or trigger a system crash leading to denial of service conditions. The flaw exists at the kernel level where privilege escalation opportunities are present, making the impact significantly more severe than typical user-space vulnerabilities.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to Apple device users and organizations relying on these platforms. The ability to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context means that attackers could potentially gain complete control over affected devices, access sensitive user data, install malicious applications, or establish persistent backdoors. The denial of service component further compounds the threat by allowing attackers to disrupt normal device operations and potentially cause system instability. Organizations running Apple devices in enterprise environments face particular risk as this vulnerability could be exploited to compromise entire networks through individual device compromises, making it a critical concern for security teams managing Apple ecosystems.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions, and aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through kernel exploits and code injection methods. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through various delivery mechanisms such as malicious applications distributed through app stores or social engineering campaigns targeting users to install compromised software. The exploitability of this vulnerability is particularly concerning given that it requires minimal user interaction beyond installing a malicious application, making it suitable for widespread exploitation. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems immediately to mitigate the risk, as the vulnerability exists in multiple Apple platforms and the attack surface spans across mobile, desktop, and television operating systems. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous application behavior and system crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to block suspicious application installations from untrusted sources.