CVE-2018-4224 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. iCloud before 7.5 on Windows is affected. iTunes before 12.7.5 on Windows 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 device identifier.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2023
This vulnerability resides within Apple's security framework affecting multiple operating systems and applications. The flaw specifically targets the persistent device identifier mechanism that is designed to maintain consistent identification across system sessions. The vulnerability exists in iOS versions prior to 11.4, macOS versions prior to 10.13.5, iCloud for Windows versions prior to 7.5, iTunes for Windows versions prior to 12.7.5, tvOS versions prior to 11.4, and watchOS versions prior to 4.3.1. The security component responsible for enforcing restrictions on device identifier access has been compromised, allowing unauthorized local access to persistent device identifiers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability represents a privilege escalation issue that enables local users to bypass intended access controls. When a device identifier is stored persistently within the system, it typically requires specific authorization levels to access or read. However, this vulnerability allows an attacker with local system access to circumvent these controls, potentially gaining unauthorized access to device-specific information that should remain restricted. The flaw operates at the kernel level or system-level security controls where device identifiers are managed and protected. This represents a weakness in the access control mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized reading of persistent identifiers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to track user activities across different applications and services, as device identifiers often serve as unique identifiers for user sessions and preferences. The ability to bypass restrictions on reading persistent device identifiers could enable more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, user tracking, and potentially further privilege escalation. This vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of Apple's operating systems, undermining the trust model that relies on proper access controls for device identifiers. The impact is particularly concerning for mobile devices where device identifiers are frequently used for authentication and tracking purposes.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate system updates to the patched versions of affected software. Users must upgrade to iOS 11.4, macOS 10.13.5, iCloud 7.5 for Windows, iTunes 12.7.5 for Windows, tvOS 11.4, and watchOS 4.3.1 or later. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems are updated promptly. Additional security measures include monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and reviewing system logs for suspicious activities related to device identifier access. Network administrators should consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Security professionals should also consider this vulnerability in the context of broader attack surface management and ensure proper system hardening practices are in place to prevent similar access control bypass scenarios.