CVE-2016-4680 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 "Kernel" component. It allows attackers to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory via a crafted app.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2022
This vulnerability resides within Apple's kernel implementation and represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting multiple operating systems. The vulnerability exists in iOS versions prior to 10.1, tvOS versions prior to 10.0.1, and watchOS versions prior to 3.1, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The kernel component serves as the core of the operating system, managing system resources and providing essential services between hardware and software applications. This particular flaw allows malicious actors to craft specially designed applications that can extract sensitive data from kernel memory spaces, potentially exposing critical system information that should remain protected from user-level applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper exposure of sensitive information, and represents a classic example of kernel-level information leakage. Attackers can exploit this weakness by installing a crafted application that leverages specific kernel interfaces or memory access patterns to read data from kernel memory regions. The vulnerability does not require elevated privileges to exploit, as it operates at the kernel level where normal application sandboxing mechanisms may be bypassed or insufficiently enforced. This creates a significant risk because kernel memory often contains sensitive system data including cryptographic keys, user credentials, system configuration details, and other confidential information that should never be accessible to regular applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked kernel memory could contain critical system components that might enable further exploitation attempts. An attacker who successfully extracts kernel memory information could potentially reconstruct system call tables, identify memory layout patterns, or discover security mechanisms that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation or system compromise. This vulnerability particularly affects Apple's mobile and embedded devices where kernel security is paramount for maintaining device integrity and user privacy. The fact that multiple Apple platforms share this vulnerability indicates a systemic issue in the kernel implementation that may have broader implications for Apple's security architecture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating affected systems to the patched versions of iOS 10.1, tvOS 10.0.1, and watchOS 3.1, which contain kernel-level patches addressing the memory disclosure mechanism. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all affected devices receive updates promptly. Additionally, security monitoring should focus on detecting suspicious application installations that might attempt to exploit this vulnerability, particularly on devices that cannot be immediately updated. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, as the information disclosure could lead to more advanced attack vectors. Network administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications that could potentially exploit this kernel-level weakness, as the vulnerability specifically requires a crafted app to be installed on the target device.