CVE-2016-4594 in tvOS
Summary
by MITRE
The Sandbox Profiles component in Apple iOS before 9.3.3, OS X before 10.11.6, tvOS before 9.2.2, and watchOS before 2.2.2 allows attackers to access the process list via a crafted app that makes an API call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4594 represents a critical sandbox escape flaw in Apple's operating systems that undermines the fundamental security boundaries designed to protect user data and system integrity. This weakness exists within the Sandbox Profiles component, which serves as a crucial security mechanism that restricts applications from accessing system resources and other processes. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms including iOS versions prior to 9.3.3, macOS versions before 10.11.6, tvOS versions before 9.2.2, and watchOS versions before 2.2.2, demonstrating the widespread nature of the flaw across Apple's ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to bypass sandbox restrictions through a carefully crafted malicious application that exploits an API call to access process information. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege that sandboxing is designed to enforce, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive system information that should remain isolated from third-party applications. The flaw specifically relates to improper validation of API calls within the sandboxing framework, allowing malicious code to escalate privileges and gain visibility into running processes on the system. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-284 which describes improper access control, and more specifically to CWE-269 which addresses improper privilege management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with information that can be leveraged for further exploitation attempts. Access to the process list enables adversaries to identify running applications, potentially including security tools, system utilities, or applications containing sensitive data. This reconnaissance capability significantly increases the attack surface and allows for more sophisticated targeting of vulnerable processes. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1056.001 which covers credential access through process injection, and T1068 which involves exploit for privilege escalation. The ability to enumerate processes also supports lateral movement and persistence techniques that attackers might employ to establish more permanent access to affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4594 primarily focus on applying the official security updates released by Apple, which include patches that correct the sandboxing implementation and restore proper access controls. System administrators should prioritize immediate deployment of iOS 9.3.3, macOS 10.11.6, tvOS 9.2.2, and watchOS 2.2.2 updates across all affected devices. Additionally, organizations should implement network monitoring to detect suspicious API activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and conduct regular security assessments to identify potentially compromised systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates how sandboxing mechanisms, when improperly implemented, can become a vector for privilege escalation attacks that undermine the entire security architecture of modern operating systems.