CVE-2018-4148 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.3 is affected. The issue involves the "Telephony" component. A buffer overflow allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4148 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Apple's Telephony component affecting iOS versions prior to 11.3. This vulnerability resides in the telecommunications processing subsystem that handles incoming and outgoing calls, SMS messages, and other telephony-related functions. The buffer overflow occurs when the system processes malformed telephony data packets or specially crafted voice call signaling information, creating an exploitable condition that can be remotely triggered by attackers without requiring physical access to the device.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw specifically manifests when the Telephony component receives malformed input through SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) messages or other telephony signaling protocols used in cellular communications. Attackers can craft malicious telephony packets that, when processed by the vulnerable iOS version, cause the system to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially allowing arbitrary code execution with kernel-level privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users of affected iOS devices as it enables remote code execution without user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in threat scenarios. The attack vector operates through standard telephony protocols that flow through cellular networks, allowing adversaries to exploit the vulnerability from anywhere in the world without requiring physical access to the target device. This capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the target device. The vulnerability affects all iOS versions before 11.3, including but not limited to iOS 10.3.3 and earlier releases, making it a widespread concern for millions of devices.
The impact of successful exploitation extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable full device compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain root access to the device, install malicious applications, monitor communications, or access sensitive personal data stored on the device. The kernel-level privileges granted through this exploit make it particularly dangerous as it bypasses standard user-space security controls and protections. Organizations and individuals using affected iOS versions face substantial risk of targeted attacks, especially in environments where mobile devices handle sensitive communications or corporate data. The vulnerability's remote exploitability makes it particularly attractive to threat actors who can target users globally without requiring physical access or specialized equipment.
Apple addressed this vulnerability through iOS 11.3 release which included enhanced input validation for telephony data processing, memory boundary checks, and improved sanitization of incoming telephony signaling information. The mitigation strategy involved implementing stricter buffer management protocols and strengthening the Telephony component's parsing logic to prevent the overflow condition from occurring. Security professionals should ensure all iOS devices are updated to version 11.3 or later, as this vulnerability remains exploitable in older versions and represents a significant risk to device security. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect suspicious telephony traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining awareness of related threats within the telecommunications security domain.