CVE-2016-4650 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in IOHIDFamily in Apple iOS before 9.3.2, OS X before 10.11.5, and tvOS before 9.2.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4650 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the IOHIDFamily component of Apple's operating systems. This flaw exists in iOS versions prior to 9.3.2, OS X versions prior to 10.11.5, and tvOS versions prior to 9.2.1, affecting a substantial portion of Apple's ecosystem. The IOHIDFamily serves as a core framework responsible for handling human interface device communications including keyboards, mice, and other input peripherals, making it a prime target for exploitation due to its privileged execution context and widespread usage across all Apple devices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the memory allocation and handling routines of the IOHIDFamily. When a malicious application attempts to interact with HID devices through improper input data handling, the system fails to validate the size of incoming data structures before copying them into heap-allocated memory regions. This oversight creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical system structures or allowing arbitrary code execution. The heap-based nature of the overflow indicates that the vulnerability occurs in dynamically allocated memory segments, making exploitation more complex but also more dangerous as it can lead to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within a privileged execution context. This privilege escalation capability means that malicious applications could gain access to system-level resources, potentially leading to complete device compromise, data theft, or persistent backdoor installation. The memory corruption aspect of the vulnerability can also result in system instability and crashes, making it particularly dangerous in environments where system reliability is paramount. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to bypass security restrictions that normally protect system integrity, effectively undermining the security model of Apple's operating systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4650 should focus on immediate patch deployment across all affected Apple platforms, as this vulnerability represents a critical security risk that can be exploited without user interaction. System administrators and device owners must prioritize updating to the patched versions of iOS 9.3.2, OS X 10.11.5, and tvOS 9.2.1 to eliminate the risk of exploitation. Additionally, organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider temporary application restrictions that prevent unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow categories and represents a technique commonly associated with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and execution domains. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes should include verification of system patch levels to prevent similar issues from compromising operational security.