CVE-2016-5104 in libimobiledevice
Summary
by MITRE
The socket_create function in common/socket.c in libimobiledevice and libusbmuxd allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and communicate with services on iOS devices by connecting to an IPv4 TCP socket.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5104 resides within the socket_create function implementation in libimobiledevice and libusbmuxd libraries, specifically in the common/socket.c file. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that undermines the intended network access controls for iOS device communication protocols. The vulnerability affects mobile device management systems and development tools that rely on these libraries for establishing secure connections between host computers and iOS devices through USB or network interfaces.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of socket connection parameters within the socket_create function. Attackers can leverage this flaw to establish unauthorized IPv4 TCP connections directly to services running on iOS devices without proper authentication or authorization mechanisms. This bypass occurs because the function fails to adequately restrict socket access based on device-specific security policies or user permissions. The vulnerability essentially allows remote attackers to circumvent the normal access control restrictions that should prevent arbitrary network connections to iOS device services, creating a pathway for unauthorized communication with potentially sensitive device functionalities.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5104 extends beyond simple network access violations, as it enables attackers to potentially exploit additional vulnerabilities within iOS device services that are normally protected by access controls. This vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of device communication protocols, particularly impacting tools used for mobile device management, application development, and enterprise device administration. The flaw can enable attackers to access device services that may contain sensitive information, execute unauthorized commands, or potentially escalate privileges within the device environment, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where iOS devices are managed centrally.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient privilege checking where the socket creation process does not properly validate connection requests against established security policies. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and lateral movement tactics, as attackers can use the bypassed access to move laterally within device networks or escalate privileges to gain deeper access to device functionalities. Organizations using libimobiledevice and libusbmuxd libraries for iOS device management should consider this vulnerability as a critical threat to their mobile device security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5104 require immediate patching of affected libraries and implementation of network-level controls to restrict access to iOS device communication ports. System administrators should ensure that all instances of libimobiledevice and libusbmuxd are updated to versions that contain proper socket access validation. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict communication between development environments and iOS devices, particularly limiting access to the specific ports used for device communication. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized socket connection attempts and establish proper access control policies for device management tools. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in network communication libraries, particularly those used in mobile device management environments where security is paramount.