CVE-2016-7660 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 "syslog" component. It allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors related to Mach port name references.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7660 represents a significant privilege escalation flaw within Apple's operating systems affecting iOS versions prior to 10.2, macOS versions prior to 10.12.2, and watchOS versions prior to 3.1.3. This issue resides within the syslog component of these systems, which serves as a critical logging mechanism for system operations and security events. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of Mach port name references, which are fundamental components of Apple's Mach microkernel-based operating system architecture that facilitate inter-process communication and system service access.
The technical flaw manifests through unspecified vectors that allow local attackers to manipulate Mach port name references within the syslog component, potentially enabling them to escalate their privileges from standard user level to administrative or root access. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of privilege escalation attacks, where an attacker exploits weaknesses in the system's access control mechanisms to gain elevated privileges. The Mach port mechanism is crucial for system security as it controls how different processes communicate and access system resources, making any compromise of this mechanism particularly dangerous.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a serious security risk for affected Apple devices as local users who might already have access to a system could exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized administrative privileges. This could enable attackers to access sensitive system files, modify system configurations, install malicious software, or exfiltrate confidential data without detection. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Apple platforms including mobile devices, desktop computers, and wearable devices amplifies its potential impact, as it could affect a broad range of users and deployment scenarios.
The security implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation as this flaw could serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks within a compromised system. Attackers might use this vulnerability as a stepping stone to establish persistent access or to move laterally within network environments where Apple devices are deployed. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-269, which addresses improper privileges, and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. System administrators and security professionals should prioritize patching affected systems to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability's impact is severe enough to warrant immediate remediation across all affected Apple platforms.