CVE-2018-4223 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.4 is affected. macOS before 10.13.5 is affected. tvOS before 11.4 is affected. watchOS before 4.3.1 is affected. The issue involves the "Security" component. It allows local users to bypass intended restrictions on the reading of a persistent account identifier.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4223 represents a significant security flaw within Apple's operating systems that affects multiple platforms including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This issue resides within the Security component of these systems and specifically targets the handling of persistent account identifiers. The flaw allows local attackers to bypass intended restrictions that should prevent unauthorized reading of account identifiers, potentially compromising user privacy and system integrity. The vulnerability affects versions prior to the specified updates, with iOS 11.4, macOS 10.13.5, tvOS 11.4, and watchOS 4.3.1 serving as the baseline for affected releases. The security implications of this flaw extend beyond simple privilege escalation as it fundamentally undermines the system's ability to maintain proper access controls for sensitive account information.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of persistent identifiers within Apple's security framework, creating a path for local users to access account information that should remain restricted. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, specifically targeting the ability to bypass restrictions that should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The vulnerability exploits the lack of proper validation mechanisms when processing persistent account identifiers, allowing attackers to read information that should be protected by access control policies. Attackers could potentially leverage this to gather sensitive account data, which could then be used for further exploitation or identity theft purposes. The local nature of the attack means that an attacker must already have access to the device, but the impact of this flaw significantly increases the potential damage from such access.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4223 extends beyond immediate privacy concerns to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks within compromised systems. When local users can bypass restrictions on reading persistent account identifiers, they gain access to information that could be used for credential harvesting, account takeover attempts, or as a stepping stone for privilege escalation attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects users who may be running outdated versions of Apple's operating systems, as these systems have not received the necessary security patches to address the flaw. The attack vector is relatively straightforward for local users who have already gained access to a device, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations where endpoint security is paramount. Security professionals should note that this flaw represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, where access controls are not properly enforced for account-related information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of the official security updates provided by Apple for each affected platform. System administrators should prioritize updating iOS devices to version 11.4 or later, macOS systems to version 10.13.5 or later, tvOS devices to version 11.4 or later, and watchOS devices to version 4.3.1 or later. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all endpoints receive these updates promptly. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for suspicious access patterns on affected systems and implementing network-based detection mechanisms that can identify potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider conducting vulnerability assessments to identify any systems that may not have received the necessary updates, particularly in environments where multiple Apple devices are in use. The remediation process should include verification that the updates have been properly applied and that the security controls have been restored. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates how even seemingly minor access control flaws can have significant security implications. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability relates to privilege escalation techniques and credential access methods that attackers might use to gather sensitive information from compromised systems.