CVE-2016-4778 in tvOS
Summary
by MITRE
The kernel in Apple iOS before 10, OS X before 10.12, tvOS before 10, and watchOS before 3 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
This vulnerability represents a critical kernel-level flaw affecting multiple Apple operating systems including iOS versions prior to 10, macOS versions before 10.12, tvOS before 10, and watchOS before 3. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and memory management controls within the kernel's privilege execution pathways. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious applications that trigger memory corruption conditions, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, which means successful exploitation could grant attackers complete system control without requiring user interaction or additional privileges.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with common kernel exploitation patterns where improper bounds checking and memory handling routines create opportunities for attackers to manipulate kernel memory structures. This type of vulnerability typically involves buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption scenarios that allow attackers to overwrite critical kernel data structures or execute malicious code within the privileged execution context. The vulnerability's classification maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers buffer overflows that can be exploited for privilege escalation. These weaknesses create a direct pathway for attackers to bypass standard security controls and gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it creates opportunities for persistent system compromise and data exfiltration. When exploited successfully, attackers can establish backdoors, modify system files, monitor user activities, or disable security features entirely. The memory corruption aspects of this vulnerability may also lead to system instability and denial of service conditions, potentially affecting system availability. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability would be categorized under the attack technique T1055 in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting kernel-mode exploitation techniques that leverage privilege escalation to gain system-level control.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to the patched versions of the affected operating systems. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected devices receive security updates promptly. Additional protective measures include network monitoring for suspicious application behavior, application whitelisting to prevent installation of malicious apps, and regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing device management solutions that can automatically enforce security policies and monitor for anomalous behavior indicative of kernel-level exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date system security patches and highlights the risks associated with running unsupported operating system versions that may lack crucial security protections.