CVE-2016-1824 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
IOHIDFamily 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 (memory corruption) via a crafted app, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1823.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1824 resides within the IOHIDFamily component of Apple's operating systems, representing a critical memory corruption flaw that affects multiple platforms including iOS, OS X, tvOS, and watchOS. This vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to the mentioned security updates, creating a persistent risk across Apple's ecosystem where the underlying hardware input/output handling mechanisms are compromised. The IOHIDFamily serves as a fundamental kernel extension responsible for managing human interface devices such as keyboards, mice, and touchscreens, making it a critical component for system stability and security. The flaw allows attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries that separate user applications from system-level processes. This represents a severe privilege escalation vulnerability that could enable attackers to gain complete control over affected devices.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2016-1824 occurs through a carefully crafted malicious application that triggers memory corruption within the IOHIDFamily kernel extension. This vulnerability manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that arises when processing malformed input from device drivers or user applications. Attackers can leverage this flaw to manipulate kernel memory structures, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with system-level privileges or causing system crashes and denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-122, stack-based buffer overflow, as it involves improper memory handling within kernel space operations. The attack vector typically involves a malicious application that interacts with the HID subsystem, exploiting the lack of proper bounds checking in the input validation routines of the IOHIDFamily component. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level where all system security controls are bypassed.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1824 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a persistent threat vector that could enable comprehensive system compromise across Apple's mobile and desktop platforms. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to install persistent backdoors, access encrypted data, monitor user activities, and potentially spread malware across networks. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Apple operating systems means that attackers could target different device types with a single exploit, making it particularly attractive for advanced persistent threat actors. The memory corruption nature of the vulnerability also introduces the risk of system instability, leading to unexpected reboots, data loss, or complete system crashes that could be used for denial of service attacks. Organizations and individuals using affected versions of Apple operating systems face significant security risks, as this vulnerability could be exploited in the wild without requiring user interaction beyond installing a malicious application, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments and mobile device management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1824 primarily focus on immediate system updates and patches provided by Apple to address the underlying memory corruption issues within IOHIDFamily. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple devices to the latest security releases, including iOS 9.3.2, OS X 10.11.5, tvOS 9.2.1, and watchOS 2.2.1, which contain the necessary kernel patches to prevent exploitation. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts through abnormal device behavior or system logs indicating kernel memory corruption events. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications, enabling kernel extension quarantine features, and conducting regular security assessments of Apple device environments. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1055 for privilege escalation and T1070 for indicator removal, suggesting that attackers may attempt to cover their tracks after exploitation. System administrators should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions specifically designed to monitor kernel-level activities and identify potential exploitation attempts targeting the IOHIDFamily component.