CVE-2016-7584 in watchOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.1 is affected. macOS before 10.12.1 is affected. tvOS before 10.0.1 is affected. watchOS before 3.1 is affected. The issue involves the "AppleMobileFileIntegrity" component, which allows remote attackers to spoof signed code by using a matching team ID.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7584 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's mobile and desktop operating systems that undermines the integrity of code signing mechanisms. This issue affects multiple Apple platforms including iOS versions prior to 10.1, macOS versions before 10.12.1, tvOS versions before 10.0.1, and watchOS versions before 3.1. The vulnerability specifically resides within the AppleMobileFileIntegrity component which is responsible for verifying the authenticity and integrity of applications and system files. The flaw allows remote attackers to bypass code signing protections through a technique that exploits the team ID matching mechanism, effectively enabling code forgery attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from a weakness in how the AppleMobileFileIntegrity component validates signed code. When applications are signed with a valid certificate, they are associated with a specific team identifier that should ensure authenticity and prevent unauthorized modifications. However, the flaw allows attackers to manipulate this process by using a matching team ID to create forged signatures that appear legitimate to the system's verification mechanisms. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the cryptographic validation process that Apple relies upon to maintain system security and prevent unauthorized code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with the capability to execute malicious code on affected devices without detection. Since the forged code appears to be properly signed with a matching team ID, it can bypass security checks that normally prevent unauthorized applications from running. This vulnerability enables attackers to potentially install malicious applications, perform privilege escalation, and compromise device integrity. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this flaw without requiring physical access to the device, making it particularly dangerous for mobile environments where users frequently download applications from various sources.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses in authentication and integrity verification systems. The flaw demonstrates how improper validation of cryptographic signatures can lead to complete bypass of security controls. Security researchers have classified this as a significant threat due to its ability to undermine the core security model of Apple's operating systems. The vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1195 which covers content injection attacks, where adversaries manipulate legitimate software to execute malicious code. Organizations and individuals using affected Apple products face elevated risk of compromise, particularly in environments where device security is paramount and unauthorized code execution could lead to data breaches or system compromise.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate installation of the applicable security updates provided by Apple. Users should upgrade to iOS 10.1, macOS 10.12.1, tvOS 10.0.1, and watchOS 3.1 or later versions. Additionally, security administrators should implement network monitoring to detect suspicious code signing activities and maintain strict application deployment policies that limit the installation of unsigned or untrusted applications. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure all affected systems remain protected against similar exploitation techniques that may target the same underlying cryptographic validation weaknesses.