CVE-2016-4614 in tvOS
Summary
by MITRE
libxml2 in Apple iOS before 9.3.3, OS X before 10.11.6, iTunes before 12.4.2 on Windows, iCloud before 5.2.1 on Windows, tvOS before 9.2.2, and watchOS before 2.2.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-4615, CVE-2016-4616, and CVE-2016-4619.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4614 represents a critical memory corruption issue within Apple's libxml2 library implementation across multiple operating systems and applications. This flaw affects iOS versions prior to 9.3.3, macOS versions before 10.11.6, iTunes versions before 12.4.2 on Windows, iCloud versions before 5.2.1 on Windows, tvOS versions before 9.2.2, and watchOS versions before 2.2.2. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of XML parsing operations that can lead to memory corruption conditions when processing malformed or specially crafted XML data. According to industry standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and potentially CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities that can result in memory corruption.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs during XML parsing operations where the libxml2 library fails to properly validate input data structures before attempting memory allocation or access operations. Attackers can craft malicious XML documents that trigger buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other memory management issues within the affected applications. These conditions can manifest as application crashes, system instability, or potentially enable more sophisticated attacks depending on the execution context. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service as it may allow for arbitrary code execution in certain scenarios, though the exact attack vectors remain unspecified in the original CVE description.
Operational impacts of CVE-2016-4614 are significant across Apple's ecosystem, affecting both consumer and enterprise deployments. The vulnerability's presence in core system libraries means that multiple applications and services could be compromised simultaneously, creating widespread potential for system instability. Mobile devices running affected iOS versions, desktop systems with outdated macOS installations, and Windows systems running affected Apple applications all face elevated risk. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to persistent denial of service conditions, data loss, or unauthorized access to system resources, particularly in environments where XML processing is common. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving memory corruption and privilege escalation, potentially enabling adversaries to gain deeper system access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4614 require immediate patching of all affected systems and applications. Apple released security updates for iOS 9.3.3, macOS 10.11.6, iTunes 12.4.2, iCloud 5.2.1, tvOS 9.2.2, and watchOS 2.2.2 to address this vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected devices receive updates promptly. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through malformed XML traffic, while application whitelisting and input validation controls can provide additional defense layers. System administrators should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms and memory protection features to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining unpatched systems within the organization's infrastructure.