CVE-2018-4082 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.2.5 is affected. macOS before 10.13.3 is affected. tvOS before 11.2.5 is affected. watchOS before 4.2.2 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 (memory corruption) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4082 represents a critical kernel-level flaw affecting multiple Apple operating systems including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This issue resides within the kernel component of Apple's operating systems, which serves as the core foundation responsible for system-level operations and resource management. The vulnerability specifically affects iOS versions prior to 11.2.5, macOS versions prior to 10.13.3, tvOS versions prior to 11.2.5, and watchOS versions prior to 4.2.2, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The kernel serves as the most privileged layer of the operating system where memory management, process scheduling, and hardware interaction occur, making any vulnerability in this component particularly dangerous.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves memory corruption that can be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code within a privileged context. This type of flaw typically arises from improper input validation or buffer overflow conditions within kernel space code where attackers can craft malicious applications to trigger unintended behavior. The vulnerability allows for privilege escalation, enabling an attacker to gain elevated system privileges that would normally be restricted to the kernel itself. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which deals with stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and potentially CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The memory corruption aspect means that attackers can manipulate memory layout and execution flow to achieve unauthorized code execution, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4082 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential denial of service conditions and complete system compromise. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can execute malicious code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing all standard security mechanisms including sandboxing and code signing requirements. This allows for persistent backdoor installation, data exfiltration, and system-wide surveillance capabilities. The implications are particularly severe given that the vulnerability affects mobile and embedded systems where users may not regularly update their devices, creating prolonged exposure windows. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as privilege escalation through kernel exploits and persistence mechanisms that leverage system-level access. The exploitability of this vulnerability means that any user with the ability to install applications can potentially trigger the attack vector, making it particularly dangerous in environments where application installation is not strictly controlled.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-4082 center on immediate system updates to patched versions of the affected operating systems. Apple released security updates in iOS 11.2.5, macOS 10.13.3, tvOS 11.2.5, and watchOS 4.2.2 that address the kernel memory corruption issue. Organizations should implement mandatory update policies for all Apple devices within their environment, particularly focusing on mobile devices that may be more vulnerable due to less frequent patching. Network monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through anomalous application behavior or unusual system calls. Additional mitigations include implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications, utilizing mobile device management solutions for centralized security policy enforcement, and conducting regular security assessments of Apple device configurations. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining awareness of security advisories and implementing proactive threat hunting activities to identify potential exploitation attempts in environments where patching timelines may be extended due to business continuity requirements.