CVE-2018-4144 in iCloud
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.3 is affected. macOS before 10.13.4 is affected. iCloud before 7.4 on Windows is affected. iTunes before 12.7.4 on Windows is affected. tvOS before 11.3 is affected. watchOS before 4.3 is affected. The issue involves the "Security" component. A buffer overflow allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4144 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Apple's security framework affecting multiple operating systems and applications. This weakness resides in the security component of Apple's ecosystem and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input validation mechanisms that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to privileged system resources. The vulnerability affects iOS versions prior to 11.3, macOS versions before 10.13.4, iCloud for Windows versions prior to 7.4, iTunes for Windows versions prior to 12.7.4, tvOS versions prior to 11.3, and watchOS versions prior to 4.3, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's product portfolio. The buffer overflow condition occurs when a crafted application attempts to interact with the affected security components, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. In the context of Apple's security architecture, this flaw enables attackers to bypass security mechanisms that are designed to prevent unauthorized code execution in privileged contexts. The attack vector requires a malicious application to be installed or executed on a vulnerable system, where the crafted app triggers the buffer overflow condition in the security component. This allows the attacker to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute malicious code with the privileges of the security subsystem itself.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4144 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities as it represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that could enable attackers to compromise entire system environments. The affected systems are particularly vulnerable because they contain security components that are expected to operate with high privileges and enforce system-wide security policies. When exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to bypass system protections, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, or establish persistent backdoors. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability means that attackers could potentially leverage a single exploit across multiple Apple devices, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Apple products are widely deployed.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate system updates and patch management procedures to address the buffer overflow conditions in Apple's security components. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple products to their latest versions, including iOS 11.3 or later, macOS 10.13.4 or later, iCloud 7.4 or later, iTunes 12.7.4 or later, tvOS 11.3 or later, and watchOS 4.3 or later. Network administrators should implement monitoring for suspicious application installations and execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of application sandboxing and runtime protection mechanisms, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques. Security teams should consider implementing additional controls such as code signing enforcement, application whitelisting, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the future, ensuring that system security boundaries remain intact against sophisticated attack vectors.