CVE-2016-7714 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 "IOKit" component. It allows local users to obtain sensitive kernel memory-layout information via unspecified vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7714 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within Apple's IOKit kernel component that affected multiple operating systems including iOS versions prior to 10.2, macOS versions before 10.12.2, and watchOS versions before 3.1.3. This issue resides within the kernel space of Apple's operating systems and demonstrates the critical nature of kernel-level vulnerabilities that can provide adversaries with valuable insights into system memory structures. The IOKit framework serves as the foundation for hardware abstraction and device driver management in Apple's ecosystem, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to understand system internals and potentially exploit other vulnerabilities.
The technical flaw manifests through unspecified vectors that enable local users to extract sensitive kernel memory-layout information, which constitutes a form of information disclosure vulnerability classified under CWE-200. This type of vulnerability allows attackers to gather intelligence about the kernel's memory organization, including virtual address space layouts, kernel data structures, and memory mapping details that could be leveraged in subsequent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information gathering as it provides adversaries with crucial architectural knowledge that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as kernel exploits or privilege escalation techniques.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to Apple device security since local access to kernel memory layouts provides attackers with the foundation for advanced persistent threats. The fact that this affects multiple Apple platforms including mobile devices, desktops, and wearables demonstrates the widespread nature of the vulnerability within Apple's ecosystem. Attackers could potentially use this information to bypass kernel address space layout randomization (ASLR) protections, which are fundamental security mechanisms designed to prevent exploitation by making memory addresses unpredictable. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall under the information gathering phase, specifically related to system information discovery techniques that precede more destructive operations.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2016-7714 primarily involves updating affected Apple products to their respective patched versions, with iOS 10.2, macOS 10.12.2, and watchOS 3.1.3 representing the minimum required versions to address this vulnerability. System administrators and users should prioritize these updates to eliminate the risk of local information disclosure that could lead to more serious security breaches. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all Apple devices within their environments. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel-level security hardening and the need for continuous monitoring of system integrity to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive kernel information that could compromise overall system security posture.