CVE-2018-4094 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 "Audio" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted audio file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4094 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's audio processing components that affects multiple operating systems including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This security issue stems from improper handling of crafted audio files within the audio subsystem, creating a pathway for remote attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or induce system crashes. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to iOS 11.2.5, macOS 10.13.3, tvOS 11.2.5, and watchOS 4.2.2, indicating that Apple's security team identified this as a significant concern requiring immediate attention across their ecosystem of devices. The affected Audio component processes multimedia content and handles various audio file formats, making it a prime target for exploitation given the widespread use of audio functionality in mobile and desktop applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under memory corruption patterns that can lead to arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions, aligning with common CWE classifications such as CWE-125 for out-of-bounds read errors and CWE-787 for out-of-bounds write errors. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious audio files that, when processed by the vulnerable systems, trigger memory corruption within the audio component's memory management routines. The exploitation process typically involves manipulating audio file headers or data structures in ways that cause buffer overflows or other memory management failures during audio decoding or playback operations. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because audio processing is often performed in kernel space or privileged contexts, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper system access. The attack vector is remote, meaning that malicious audio files could be delivered through various channels including email attachments, web downloads, or streaming services without requiring physical access to the target device.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4094 extends beyond simple system crashes or application instability, as it represents a potential gateway for more sophisticated attacks within Apple's ecosystem. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability could allow attackers to execute malicious code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the entire device or enabling further reconnaissance activities. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Apple platforms means that attackers could target users across different device types, from iPhones and iPads to Mac computers and Apple TV devices. Organizations and individuals using affected versions of these operating systems face significant risks, particularly in enterprise environments where audio processing is common in multimedia applications, media centers, or collaborative software. The vulnerability's remote exploitability makes it particularly concerning for users who frequently download or stream audio content from untrusted sources, as simply opening or playing a malicious audio file could result in system compromise. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping all system components updated, as audio processing libraries are often updated regularly to address such memory corruption issues.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-4094 primarily focus on applying the official security updates released by Apple, which include patches for iOS 11.2.5, macOS 10.13.3, tvOS 11.2.5, and watchOS 4.2.2. System administrators should prioritize deployment of these updates across all affected devices within their organization, particularly in environments where users may be exposed to untrusted audio content. Additional protective measures include implementing network-level filtering to block suspicious audio file downloads, disabling automatic audio playback in web browsers or email clients, and educating users about the risks of opening audio files from unknown or untrusted sources. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current security practices such as regular system updates, network monitoring for unusual audio file transfers, and implementing endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block malicious audio file content. Organizations should consider implementing security awareness training to help users understand the risks associated with multimedia content and the importance of only downloading audio files from verified sources. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for comprehensive security testing of multimedia processing components and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all operating systems and applications.