CVE-2016-4750 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
S2 Camera in Apple iOS before 10 and OS X before 10.12 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4750 affects the S2 Camera component within Apple iOS versions prior to 10 and OS X versions prior to 10.12. This represents a critical security flaw that exists within the kernel-level camera subsystem, specifically within the S2 Camera driver or framework. The vulnerability manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be exploited by malicious applications to gain elevated privileges or cause system instability. The S2 Camera component is responsible for handling camera operations and device communication at a low level within the operating system architecture, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks.
The technical flaw stems from improper input validation and memory management within the camera subsystem's handling of crafted malicious data. Attackers can construct specially designed applications that, when executed, trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions within the S2 Camera driver. This occurs when the system fails to properly validate the size or content of data structures passed to the camera component, allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory regions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking enables arbitrary memory modification. The flaw exists in the kernel context, meaning successful exploitation can grant attackers root-level privileges or system-level access to sensitive resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and persistent access. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code within the privileged kernel context, bypassing standard security boundaries and access controls. This capability enables attackers to install malicious software, modify system files, access encrypted data, and maintain persistent access to affected devices. The memory corruption can also lead to denial of service conditions where system stability is compromised, potentially causing crashes or complete system lockups. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) and T1499 (Endpoint Denial of Service), representing both privilege escalation and system disruption attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4750 primarily focus on immediate system updates and security hardening measures. Apple released security patches for iOS 10 and OS X 10.12 that address the memory corruption issue in the S2 Camera component through improved input validation and memory management. Organizations should prioritize deployment of these updates across all affected systems to eliminate the vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted camera-related applications, monitoring for suspicious system behavior indicative of privilege escalation attempts, and maintaining comprehensive system monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to identify potential exploitation patterns associated with this vulnerability, while endpoint security solutions should be updated to recognize and block malicious applications attempting to exploit the camera subsystem. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel-level security controls and proper input validation in preventing privilege escalation attacks that can compromise entire operating system architectures.