CVE-2016-4653 in tvOS
Summary
by MITRE
The kernel 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 local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1863 and CVE-2016-4582.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical kernel-level flaw in Apple's operating systems that affects multiple platforms including iOS, OS X, tvOS, and watchOS. The issue manifests as a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows local attackers to execute code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the entire system. The vulnerability stems from unspecified vectors within the kernel implementation that create memory corruption conditions, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring network connectivity or user interaction. Security researchers have noted that this flaw operates differently from other known vulnerabilities such as CVE-2016-1863 and CVE-2016-4582, indicating a distinct attack surface that requires specific analysis and mitigation approaches. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-119 which addresses weaknesses in memory management, specifically those involving insufficient protection of memory access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves kernel memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges. Attackers can leverage this flaw to bypass security mechanisms that normally protect system integrity, potentially gaining root access to the affected devices. The memory corruption aspect suggests that the kernel's memory management functions contain flaws that allow for buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory-related issues that can be manipulated by local users. This type of vulnerability typically requires the attacker to already have access to the system, but once exploited, provides complete control over the device's functionality and data. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential denial of service conditions that can crash the system or render it unusable.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations and individuals using affected Apple operating systems. System administrators must prioritize patching efforts across all supported platforms to prevent potential exploitation by malicious actors. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Apple platforms creates a complex mitigation landscape where security teams must coordinate updates across iOS devices, macOS computers, Apple TV systems, and Apple Watch devices. Organizations that rely on Apple devices for business operations face significant risk if this vulnerability remains unpatched, as it could enable attackers to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt critical services. The local exploitation requirement means that attackers typically need physical access to devices or must already have user-level access to exploit the vulnerability effectively.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability center on immediate patch deployment across all affected Apple platforms. Organizations should implement comprehensive update management procedures to ensure all devices receive security patches promptly. System administrators should monitor for unauthorized access attempts and conduct regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's nature suggests that traditional security measures may not fully protect against exploitation, requiring enhanced monitoring and logging of system behavior. Security teams should consider implementing additional controls such as device encryption, secure boot mechanisms, and network segmentation to reduce the attack surface. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and could be used as part of broader attack chains that involve initial access, execution, and persistence phases. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify anomalous behavior patterns consistent with memory corruption exploitation attempts.