CVE-2016-7644 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 "Kernel" component. It allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (use-after-free) via a crafted app.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7644 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the kernel component of Apple's operating systems affecting multiple platforms including iOS, macOS, and watchOS. This issue stems from improper memory management practices within the kernel space, creating a scenario where freed memory locations can be accessed and manipulated by malicious applications. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to iOS 10.2, macOS 10.12.2, and watchOS 3.1.3, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions where program memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating potential exploitation opportunities for attackers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, effectively bypassing system security mechanisms that typically restrict application access to kernel-level resources. This privilege escalation occurs because the use-after-free condition allows malicious code to manipulate freed memory structures and potentially overwrite critical kernel data or function pointers. The flaw specifically affects the kernel's memory management subsystem, where the kernel fails to properly validate memory references after objects have been deallocated, creating a window of opportunity for attackers to corrupt kernel memory. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it operates at the kernel level, where any successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise. The attack vector requires a crafted malicious application that can trigger the specific memory management condition, making it possible for attackers to leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to system resources and execute malicious code with kernel privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7644 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can lead to complete system compromise and persistent access to affected devices. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially establish persistent backdoors, access sensitive user data, monitor system activities, and perform unauthorized operations that would normally be restricted by system security policies. The use-after-free condition creates a reliable exploitation path that can be leveraged for both remote and local attacks, depending on the specific implementation details and attack surface. This vulnerability particularly affects mobile and desktop devices where users may unknowingly install malicious applications that contain the exploit code, making it a significant concern for enterprise security and individual device protection. The impact is further amplified by the fact that this vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms, requiring coordinated patching efforts across different operating system versions. The flaw demonstrates a critical weakness in Apple's kernel memory management implementation and highlights the importance of proper memory lifecycle management in privileged system components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7644 primarily focus on immediate system updates and patch deployment across all affected Apple platforms. Users and organizations should prioritize updating to the patched versions of iOS 10.2, macOS 10.12.2, and watchOS 3.1.3, as these releases contain the necessary kernel memory management fixes to address the use-after-free condition. Additionally, security administrators should implement application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications that could potentially exploit this vulnerability. Network monitoring and endpoint detection systems should be configured to identify suspicious application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs that can identify and remediate similar memory corruption issues before they can be exploited in the wild. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence, specifically targeting the kernel execution environment and memory management subsystems. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as code signing enforcement, application sandboxing, and regular security audits to prevent exploitation of similar memory corruption vulnerabilities that may exist in other system components.