CVE-2016-7619 in watchOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.2 is affected. macOS before 10.12.2 is affected. watchOS before 3.1.3 is affected. The issue involves the "libarchive" component, which allows local users to write to arbitrary files via vectors related to symlinks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7619 represents a significant security flaw within Apple's software ecosystem affecting multiple operating systems including iOS, macOS, and watchOS. This issue stems from the libarchive component, a widely used library for handling various archive formats such as tar, zip, and others. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of symbolic links during archive extraction processes, creating a path traversal condition that enables malicious actors to write files to arbitrary locations on the system. The affected versions include iOS prior to 10.2, macOS prior to 10.12.2, and watchOS prior to 3.1.3, indicating this flaw was present across Apple's mobile and desktop platforms for an extended period.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw occurs when the libarchive library processes archive files containing symbolic links without proper validation of the target paths. When an archive contains malicious symlinks that point to system directories or sensitive locations, the extraction process can inadvertently create or overwrite files in unintended locations. This behavior exploits the fundamental trust placed in archive content and demonstrates how seemingly innocuous archive processing can become a vector for privilege escalation and arbitrary file manipulation. Attackers could craft malicious archives that, when extracted, would place malicious files in critical system directories, potentially enabling persistent access or privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7619 extends beyond simple file manipulation as it provides attackers with the capability to compromise system integrity and potentially escalate privileges. Local users with the ability to execute archive extraction processes can leverage this vulnerability to modify system files, install backdoors, or create persistent access mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the file system level and can be exploited through legitimate archive processing workflows, making detection more challenging. In the context of the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence, specifically targeting the file system and process execution domains. The impact is amplified in enterprise environments where users may unknowingly extract malicious archives from untrusted sources, potentially compromising entire networks through lateral movement.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7619 primarily focus on updating affected systems to patched versions of Apple's operating systems, which address the underlying libarchive handling behavior. System administrators should prioritize patching all affected iOS, macOS, and watchOS devices to eliminate the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement strict file access controls and monitor archive processing activities for unusual patterns. Security teams should consider implementing sandboxing measures for archive processing applications and restrict the execution of archive extraction commands from untrusted sources. Network-level controls can include filtering archive files at ingress points and implementing behavioral analysis to detect anomalous file system modifications. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect against both known and emerging threats in the archive processing domain.