CVE-2016-7634 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.2 is affected. The issue involves the "Accessibility" component, which accepts spoken passwords without considering that they are locally audible.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7634 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's iOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.2. This weakness resides within the accessibility framework and specifically impacts how the system handles spoken password authentication mechanisms. The issue fundamentally undermines the security assumptions of password-based authentication by failing to properly validate the auditory context of password entry. The vulnerability stems from the accessibility component's design which allows spoken passwords to be accepted regardless of whether they are being audibly transmitted locally, creating a significant attack surface that bypasses traditional authentication security measures.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability manifests as a failure in input validation and context awareness within the iOS accessibility subsystem. When users speak passwords for authentication purposes, the system should verify that the spoken input originates from an authenticated user's local environment rather than from external sources or automated systems. The flaw occurs because the accessibility framework does not implement proper audio context validation, allowing attackers to potentially replay or manipulate spoken password inputs without proper authentication. This represents a direct violation of security principle 13 from the OWASP Top 10, which addresses authentication weaknesses and improper input handling. The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-312 (Sensitive Data Exposure) and CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) as it exposes authentication mechanisms to unauthorized access through flawed input validation.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7634 extends beyond simple password bypass scenarios to encompass broader accessibility and authentication security implications. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability through various methods including voice replay attacks, automated speech synthesis systems, or by leveraging other accessibility features to manipulate the password entry process. The vulnerability particularly affects users who rely on voice-based accessibility features, making it especially concerning for individuals with disabilities who depend on these systems for daily authentication tasks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1110 (Brute Force) and T1552 (Unsecured Credentials) techniques, as it enables unauthorized access through compromised credential mechanisms. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this vulnerability affects the core operating system level rather than specific applications, making it a system-wide concern that impacts all accessibility-based authentication methods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7634 require immediate system updates to iOS version 10.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the accessibility component's flawed password validation logic. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication to reduce reliance on single authentication factors, particularly voice-based methods. Security administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all iOS devices within their environment to ensure proper patching and monitor for potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include disabling unnecessary accessibility features when not required, implementing proper access controls for authentication systems, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect anomalous authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks associated with voice-based authentication and encouraged to use more secure authentication methods such as biometric verification or traditional password entry when possible. This vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive security testing of accessibility features and the need for proper context validation in authentication systems.