CVE-2016-7663 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 "CoreFoundation" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7663 resides within Apple's CoreFoundation framework, a fundamental component that provides essential services for application development across iOS, macOS, and watchOS platforms. This critical security flaw affects multiple Apple operating systems including iOS versions prior to 10.2, macOS versions before 10.12.2, and watchOS versions before 3.1.3, representing a significant attack surface that could compromise user devices. The vulnerability specifically targets the string processing mechanisms within CoreFoundation, making it particularly dangerous as string manipulation is a common operation throughout the operating system and applications.
The technical flaw manifests through improper memory handling when processing crafted strings within the CoreFoundation component. Attackers can exploit this weakness by delivering maliciously constructed strings that trigger memory corruption during processing, leading to unpredictable behavior. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to arbitrary code execution. The memory corruption occurs at the core level where string objects are manipulated, making it extremely difficult for applications to recover gracefully from such attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on affected devices. This means that an attacker could potentially take complete control of a user's device without physical access or user interaction beyond the initial attack vector. The vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including email attachments, web content, or malicious applications that leverage the CoreFoundation framework. This represents a significant concern for enterprise environments where mobile devices handle sensitive data and for individual users who may unknowingly interact with malicious content. The potential for denial of service combined with arbitrary code execution creates a dual threat that could disrupt user productivity while simultaneously compromising device security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7663 focus primarily on updating affected systems to the latest available versions where Apple has patched the vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of iOS 10.2, macOS 10.12.2, and watchOS 3.1.3 updates to protect their device fleets. Additionally, security administrators should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider network segmentation to limit the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date operating systems and highlights the need for robust patch management processes. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and remote code execution, emphasizing the critical nature of timely security updates in preventing successful exploitation attempts.