CVE-2018-4225 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. watchOS before 4.3.1 is affected. The issue involves the "Security" component. It allows local users to bypass intended restrictions on Keychain state modifications.
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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 exists in the Keychain management system which serves as the central repository for storing passwords, certificates, and cryptographic keys across Apple's ecosystem. The vulnerability specifically targets the security component that governs access controls and state modifications within the Keychain subsystem. Attackers exploiting this weakness can manipulate the Keychain's internal state without proper authorization, effectively bypassing the intended access restrictions that protect sensitive credentials and cryptographic materials. This represents a fundamental breakdown in Apple's privilege escalation controls, where local users can circumvent the established security boundaries that normally prevent unauthorized modifications to critical system components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the Keychain state modification routines. When applications attempt to modify Keychain entries, the system should enforce strict access controls based on user permissions, application entitlements, and security policies. However, the flaw allows unauthorized modifications to occur by bypassing these validation checks. The vulnerability's impact extends across multiple platforms due to the shared Keychain architecture that Apple employs across iOS, macOS, watchOS, and Windows applications like iTunes and iCloud. This cross-platform nature indicates that the flaw exists at a foundational level rather than being isolated to a single application or operating system component. The vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to the mentioned patches, suggesting that Apple's security team identified and addressed this issue through enhanced validation routines and stricter access control enforcement mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations and individual users who rely on Apple's security infrastructure for protecting sensitive data. Local attackers can exploit this weakness to modify or extract credentials stored in the Keychain without proper authorization, potentially leading to unauthorized access to encrypted data, network resources, and system privileges. The implications extend beyond simple credential theft as attackers could modify security certificates, cryptographic keys, or other sensitive materials that are protected by the Keychain's access controls. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Apple products are used for enterprise security, as it undermines the trust model that organizations rely upon for protecting their digital assets. The exposure period for this vulnerability spans multiple versions of Apple's operating systems and applications, creating a substantial window during which organizations were potentially vulnerable to attacks that could compromise their security posture.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including deploying the applicable security updates for all affected Apple products and operating systems. The recommended approach involves updating to iOS 11.4, macOS 10.13.5, iCloud 7.5, iTunes 12.7.5, and watchOS 4.3.1 or later versions. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory checks to identify all affected devices and applications within their environments. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect any unusual Keychain access patterns or modifications that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues and potentially maps to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as monitoring for unauthorized Keychain modifications and conducting regular security assessments to identify other potential weaknesses in their Apple-based infrastructure. Regular patch management processes should be strengthened to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all Apple products within the organization's ecosystem.