CVE-2018-4100 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. watchOS before 4.2.2 is affected. The issue involves the "LinkPresentation" component. It allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource consumption) via a crafted text message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4100 resides within Apple's LinkPresentation framework, a component responsible for handling and displaying link previews in various Apple operating systems. This flaw affects iOS versions prior to 11.2.5, macOS versions before 10.13.3, and watchOS versions before 4.2.2, representing a significant security gap that could be exploited across multiple device types. The vulnerability specifically targets the processing of text messages containing crafted links, creating a potential vector for resource exhaustion attacks that could compromise system stability and availability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the LinkPresentation component when processing specially crafted text messages. When a user receives a message containing maliciously formatted links, the system attempts to generate previews for these links without adequate sanitization or resource limiting mechanisms. This processing behavior creates a condition where remote attackers can craft text messages that cause the system to consume excessive memory and CPU resources, ultimately leading to denial of service conditions that prevent normal system operation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to users of affected Apple devices as it allows remote attackers to disrupt system functionality without requiring physical access or elevated privileges. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be executed through ordinary text messaging channels, making it accessible to adversaries who might not possess sophisticated technical capabilities. The resource consumption aspect means that affected systems could become unresponsive or crash entirely, potentially disrupting communication and device usability for extended periods.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption," and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.001, "Network Denial of Service," as it enables attackers to consume system resources and cause service disruption. Organizations and individual users should prioritize updating their affected Apple devices to the patched versions, as the vulnerability represents a significant risk to system availability and user experience. The remediation process involves applying the respective software updates provided by Apple, which address the input validation deficiencies in the LinkPresentation framework and implement proper resource management controls to prevent excessive consumption during link preview generation processes.