CVE-2016-7605 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.2 is affected. The issue involves the "Bluetooth" component. It allows attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7605 represents a critical flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.12.2. This security issue resides within the Bluetooth component of the system, specifically manifesting as a NULL pointer dereference condition that can be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly innocuous system components can present significant risks when not properly validated during execution. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through a crafted application, meaning attackers do not require physical access to the device or elevated privileges to exploit the weakness. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the category of remotely exploitable issues that can affect a broad user base, especially given the widespread use of Bluetooth technology in modern computing environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the Bluetooth subsystem of macOS. When a malicious application attempts to interact with the Bluetooth framework, it can manipulate memory references in such a way that causes the system to attempt to dereference a NULL pointer. This type of error typically occurs when software assumes that a pointer variable contains a valid memory address but instead encounters a null value. The underlying cause can be traced to inadequate error handling mechanisms within the Bluetooth driver or framework code, where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize input data before processing. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions in software implementations, making it a classic example of improper handling of null references in system-level code.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7605 extends beyond simple system instability, as it provides attackers with a reliable method for causing denial of service conditions that can render affected systems unusable. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause the Bluetooth subsystem to crash or hang, potentially leading to broader system instability or complete system lockup depending on how deeply integrated the Bluetooth functionality is within the operating system's core services. The denial of service aspect of this vulnerability makes it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt legitimate user activities or potentially create conditions for more sophisticated attacks. From an attacker's perspective, the fact that this can be triggered through a crafted application means that the exploitation vector is relatively simple and does not require complex system-level privileges or specialized hardware access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate system updates and patches provided by Apple to address the specific NULL pointer dereference issue within the Bluetooth framework. System administrators and users should prioritize updating to macOS 10.12.2 or later versions where Apple has implemented proper input validation and error handling mechanisms to prevent the exploitation of this condition. Additionally, organizations should implement network monitoring solutions to detect unusual Bluetooth activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall within the privilege escalation and denial of service categories, highlighting the need for comprehensive security monitoring. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of untrusted applications, particularly those that might interact with system-level Bluetooth services. Given the nature of the vulnerability, regular security assessments of Bluetooth-enabled applications and system components should be part of ongoing security maintenance procedures to prevent similar issues from emerging in other system components.