CVE-2016-1830 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
The kernel 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-2016-1827, CVE-2016-1828, and CVE-2016-1829.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical kernel-level memory corruption flaw affecting multiple Apple operating systems including iOS 9.3.1 and earlier, OS X 10.11.4 and earlier, tvOS 9.2.0 and earlier, and watchOS 2.2.0 and earlier. The issue arises from insufficient input validation within the kernel's memory management subsystem, allowing malicious applications to exploit a buffer overflow or use-after-free condition that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. The vulnerability specifically impacts the kernel's handling of memory operations during application execution, creating a privilege escalation vector that bypasses normal security boundaries between user-space applications and the kernel. This flaw demonstrates a classic kernel exploitation pattern where improper bounds checking enables attackers to manipulate kernel memory structures and gain elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a crafted application that triggers memory corruption through improper handling of kernel data structures. Attackers can construct malicious payloads that exploit memory layout issues during kernel memory allocation, deallocation, or access operations. The flaw typically manifests when the kernel processes input from user-space applications without adequate validation, leading to memory corruption that can be directly exploited to execute arbitrary code in kernel context. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-122, stack-based buffer overflow, while also demonstrating characteristics of privilege escalation techniques. The exploitation requires the attacker to have a legitimate application installed on the target system, making this a sophisticated attack vector that combines application-level privileges with kernel-level execution capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential system compromise and persistent access. Successful exploitation can enable attackers to bypass system security controls, install malicious software, access sensitive data, and maintain persistent presence on affected systems. The memory corruption can also lead to system instability and denial of service conditions, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where system reliability is critical. Organizations and users face significant risk as the vulnerability allows for complete system compromise without requiring physical access or advanced exploitation techniques. This vulnerability affects a wide range of Apple devices including smartphones, tablets, desktop computers, and wearable devices, creating a broad attack surface that increases the potential for widespread exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate installation of the security patches provided by Apple for each affected operating system version. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected devices to the latest available versions, particularly focusing on iOS 9.3.2, OS X 10.11.5, tvOS 9.2.1, and watchOS 2.2.1. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, monitoring for suspicious application behavior, and maintaining comprehensive system monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security professionals should also consider network-based detection mechanisms that can identify malicious applications attempting to exploit this vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches to ensure compatibility with existing applications and system configurations. Organizations may also need to implement additional security controls such as kernel extension restrictions and enhanced monitoring of kernel-level activities to prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of timely patch management and continuous security monitoring in maintaining system integrity against sophisticated kernel-level attacks.