CVE-2016-4665 in watchOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.1 is affected. tvOS before 10.0.1 is affected. watchOS before 3.1 is affected. The issue involves the "Sandbox Profiles" component, which allows attackers to read audio-recording metadata via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4665 represents a critical sandboxing flaw within Apple's operating systems affecting iOS versions prior to 10.1, tvOS prior to 10.0.1, and watchOS prior to 3.1. This security weakness resides within the sandbox profiles component, which serves as a fundamental security mechanism designed to isolate applications and prevent unauthorized access to system resources. The flaw allows malicious actors to exploit the sandbox restrictions and gain unauthorized access to audio recording metadata through carefully crafted applications that leverage the sandbox bypass techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation within the sandbox profile enforcement mechanisms. When applications attempt to access audio recording metadata, the sandbox component fails to properly verify the requesting application's privileges and authorization levels. This allows a malicious application to manipulate the system's access controls and extract sensitive metadata information from audio recordings. The vulnerability specifically targets the privilege escalation capabilities within the sandbox environment, enabling attackers to bypass the normal security boundaries that should prevent unauthorized data access. The flaw manifests as a weakness in the access control list validation process where the system does not adequately verify whether an application has legitimate authorization to access audio metadata.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns, as audio recording metadata can contain sensitive information including timestamps, device identifiers, location data, and other contextual details that may reveal user behavior patterns and personal information. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to conduct surveillance operations without user knowledge, potentially compromising sensitive communications and personal privacy. The affected platforms are particularly vulnerable because they represent widely deployed consumer devices that users trust for personal and professional communication. The security implications are compounded by the fact that this vulnerability can be exploited through seemingly legitimate applications, making detection and prevention challenging for end users. This flaw essentially undermines the core security principle of application isolation that sandbox profiles are designed to enforce.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4665 require immediate system updates to the patched versions of iOS, tvOS, and watchOS, as Apple released security updates addressing the sandbox profile validation weakness. Organizations and individuals should implement comprehensive device management policies to ensure all affected Apple devices receive the latest security patches. Additional protective measures include monitoring application behavior for suspicious activities, implementing network-based detection systems, and maintaining awareness of potential social engineering attacks that might exploit this vulnerability. Security professionals should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and conducting regular security audits of mobile device environments to identify potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers exploit public-facing application vulnerabilities, as it represents a privilege escalation vector through sandbox profile manipulation. The incident underscores the critical importance of maintaining current security patches and the potential consequences of outdated mobile device operating systems in enterprise and personal security environments.