CVE-2016-4693 in watchOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.2 is affected. macOS before 10.12.2 is affected. watchOS before 3.1.3 is affected. The issue involves the "Security" component, which makes it easier for attackers to bypass cryptographic protection mechanisms by leveraging use of the 3DES cipher.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4693 represents a significant cryptographic weakness in Apple's security infrastructure affecting multiple operating systems including iOS, macOS, and watchOS. This flaw resides within the security component of Apple's software ecosystem and specifically targets the implementation of cryptographic protocols that utilize the 3DES cipher algorithm. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of cryptographic operations that allows attackers to bypass intended security protections through exploitation of the 3DES cipher's inherent weaknesses. The affected versions demonstrate a failure in proper cryptographic implementation where the system does not adequately validate or enforce secure cryptographic practices, creating opportunities for malicious actors to undermine the intended security measures.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and specifically relates to improper use of the 3DES cipher in security contexts. The flaw manifests when the system employs 3DES encryption in scenarios where stronger cryptographic standards should be implemented, creating a pathway for attackers to perform cryptographic attacks that would normally be prevented by robust encryption mechanisms. This weakness particularly impacts authentication and data protection functions where 3DES is used as a secondary or fallback encryption method, allowing adversaries to exploit the cipher's known vulnerabilities including its susceptibility to meet-in-the-middle attacks and reduced key space compared to modern cryptographic standards. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level where cryptographic decisions are made, rather than at the application level, making it particularly dangerous as it affects core security functions that protect user data and system integrity.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-4693 extends across multiple Apple platforms and creates substantial risks for users of affected systems. Mobile devices running iOS versions prior to 10.2, desktop systems with macOS versions before 10.12.2, and wearable devices with watchOS versions before 3.1.3 all face increased exposure to cryptographic attacks that could compromise user privacy and system security. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could potentially intercept and manipulate encrypted communications, bypass authentication mechanisms, or perform man-in-the-middle attacks against vulnerable systems. The impact is particularly concerning given that 3DES is often used as a fallback mechanism in cryptographic protocols, meaning that when primary encryption methods fail or are unavailable, the system defaults to 3DES which is now compromised. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security assumptions of Apple's cryptographic implementations and could enable attackers to access sensitive user information, perform unauthorized system access, or conduct surveillance operations against affected devices.
Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability by upgrading to the patched versions of affected Apple operating systems. The recommended remediation involves updating iOS to version 10.2 or later, macOS to version 10.12.2 or later, and watchOS to version 3.1.3 or later to ensure proper cryptographic implementation and eliminate the risk associated with 3DES cipher usage. Additionally, security administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any systems that may still be running affected versions and implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The mitigation approach should also include reviewing cryptographic configurations and ensuring that systems no longer rely on 3DES for security-critical operations, instead implementing stronger encryption standards such as AES-256. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper cryptographic implementation and the dangers of relying on deprecated or weak cryptographic algorithms in security-critical systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for credential access through cryptographic attacks and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage in network communications where weakened cryptographic protections may be exploited.