CVE-2016-4704 in Xcode
Summary
by MITRE
otool in Apple Xcode before 8 allows local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-4705.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4704 affects the otool utility within Apple Xcode versions prior to 8.0, representing a significant security flaw that could be exploited by local attackers to achieve privilege escalation or system disruption. This issue specifically targets the command-line tool used for examining Mach-O object files and other binary formats on macOS systems, making it a critical component in the development and analysis environment that developers rely upon. The vulnerability manifests through unspecified vectors that differ from the related CVE-2016-4705, indicating a distinct attack surface that requires careful analysis and remediation.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption issues within the otool implementation that can lead to arbitrary code execution or application crashes when processing malformed input files. The flaw likely stems from insufficient input validation and memory management practices within the tool's parsing routines, potentially allowing attackers to craft malicious binary files or manipulate existing ones to trigger buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption scenarios. These issues typically arise when the tool fails to properly validate the structure and content of binary files before processing them, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layout and execution flow.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-4704 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable privilege escalation attacks that could allow local users to execute code with elevated privileges. This risk is particularly concerning in development environments where Xcode is frequently used, as attackers could leverage the vulnerability to gain access to sensitive development resources, compromise source code integrity, or establish persistent access to development systems. The vulnerability affects developers working on macOS applications and could be exploited in supply chain attacks targeting development infrastructure or by attackers who gain access to developer workstations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4704 primarily involve upgrading to Apple Xcode 8.0 or later versions where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved input validation and memory management practices. Organizations should also implement strict file validation procedures for binary content processed by otool or similar utilities, and consider deploying runtime protection mechanisms that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of their development environments to identify systems running vulnerable Xcode versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions, and may also relate to CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities that could enable privilege escalation. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically command and scripting interpreter execution, as attackers might leverage compromised development tools to execute malicious code within the development environment.