CVE-2018-4189 in tvOS
Summary
by MITRE
In iOS before 11.2.5, macOS High Sierra before 10.13.3, Security Update 2018-001 Sierra, and Security Update 2018-001 El Capitan, watchOS before 4.2.2, and tvOS before 11.2.5, a memory corruption issue exists and was addressed with improved memory handling.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/28/2020
This vulnerability represents a memory corruption issue that affected multiple Apple operating systems including iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. The flaw existed in versions prior to the respective security updates released in 2018, specifically addressing memory handling mechanisms that were insufficient to prevent unauthorized memory access patterns. The vulnerability was categorized under CWE-122, which describes insufficient memory protection mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1063 for credential access through memory manipulation. The memory corruption issue stemmed from inadequate bounds checking and memory management practices within Apple's operating system kernels and system libraries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involved improper memory handling that could allow malicious actors to exploit memory corruption patterns through crafted inputs or system interactions. Attackers could potentially leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges within the affected systems. The vulnerability was particularly concerning because it affected core system components that handle memory allocation and deallocation processes, making it a critical target for exploitation. The root cause was identified as insufficient validation of memory operations and lack of proper memory boundaries enforcement, which allowed for buffer overflows or memory overwrite conditions to occur.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability posed significant risks to enterprise and individual users alike, as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources and potentially compromise entire device ecosystems. The affected platforms included widely deployed operating systems such as iOS 11.2.4 and earlier, macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 and earlier, watchOS 4.2.1 and earlier, and tvOS 11.2.4 and earlier. Organizations using these vulnerable systems faced potential exposure to advanced persistent threats that could exploit the memory corruption to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or extract sensitive information from compromised devices. The vulnerability's impact extended beyond individual devices to enterprise networks where Apple devices were commonly used for business operations.
The remediation for this vulnerability required applying the respective security updates released by Apple, including iOS 11.2.5, macOS High Sierra 10.13.3, watchOS 4.2.2, and tvOS 11.2.5. These updates implemented enhanced memory handling mechanisms including improved bounds checking, memory allocation validation, and strengthened memory protection routines. System administrators were advised to deploy these updates immediately across all affected devices to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The fix addressed the underlying memory corruption patterns by implementing more robust memory management practices that prevent unauthorized memory access and ensure proper memory boundaries enforcement. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive patch management processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from affecting their systems.