CVE-2016-7665 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.2 is affected. The issue involves the "Graphics Driver" component, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted video.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7665 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Apple's iOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.2. This weakness resides within the graphics driver component of the mobile operating system, specifically manifesting when processing crafted video content. The issue demonstrates how multimedia processing components can become attack vectors for compromising system stability and availability. The vulnerability was particularly concerning as it could be exploited remotely, meaning attackers did not require physical access to devices or user interaction beyond viewing the malicious content. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of remote code execution risks that can escalate to complete system compromise, though in this case the specific impact was limited to denial of service.
The technical flaw within the graphics driver component stems from insufficient input validation when processing video streams. When iOS encounters malformed or specially crafted video content, the graphics processing unit fails to properly handle the anomalous data structures, leading to system instability and eventual crash. This behavior aligns with common software vulnerabilities related to buffer overflows and memory corruption issues that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature. The graphics driver's failure to properly sanitize video input data creates a condition where malicious actors can craft video files containing specific sequences that trigger memory corruption within the graphics processing subsystem. This vulnerability demonstrates the inherent complexity of multimedia processing components and their susceptibility to malformed input that can cause system-wide failures.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7665 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affect user productivity and device reliability. Users of affected iOS versions could experience unexpected device reboots or complete system lockups when encountering malicious video content, whether through email attachments, web browsing, or media sharing platforms. The remote exploitation capability means that adversaries could potentially deploy this vulnerability at scale through various communication channels without requiring user interaction beyond viewing the content. This vulnerability particularly affects mobile devices where users frequently consume multimedia content, making it a significant concern for enterprise environments and individuals who rely heavily on mobile communications. The impact is amplified by the fact that iOS devices are widely used in both personal and professional contexts, making the potential for widespread disruption considerable.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7665 primarily focus on updating to iOS version 10.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the graphics driver vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive mobile device management policies that ensure all iOS devices receive timely security updates. Network administrators should consider implementing content filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious video content, particularly in enterprise environments where device security is paramount. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches across all operating system components, as graphics drivers represent a critical attack surface that can be exploited for system compromise. Security professionals should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual system behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for robust input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing components, aligning with common security best practices outlined in industry standards such as those referenced in the CWE database for memory safety issues. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for application layer protocol execution, specifically targeting the graphics rendering subsystem as an execution environment.