CVE-2018-4290 in watchOS
Summary
by MITRE
A denial of service issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue affected versions prior to iOS 11.4.1, watchOS 4.3.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4290 represents a denial of service flaw that emerged in Apple's mobile operating systems prior to specific security updates. This issue specifically impacted iOS versions before 11.4.1 and watchOS versions before 4.3.2, indicating a widespread concern affecting Apple's mobile ecosystem. The vulnerability stemmed from inadequate memory management practices within the affected software versions, creating potential pathways for malicious actors to disrupt normal system operations through resource exhaustion or improper memory allocation handling.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under memory handling deficiencies that can lead to system instability and complete service interruption. When exploited, the flaw could cause devices to become unresponsive or crash entirely, effectively rendering the affected mobile devices unusable for their intended purposes. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and CWE-131, which covers incorrect calculation of buffer sizes. The memory handling issues likely involved improper bounds checking or allocation mechanisms that allowed for memory corruption or exhaustion scenarios.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability posed significant risks to users of affected Apple devices, particularly in environments where mobile device reliability is critical. The denial of service condition could be triggered through various means including malicious applications or crafted inputs that exploit the memory handling flaws. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to cause widespread disruption across multiple devices simultaneously, especially in enterprise or institutional settings where large numbers of Apple devices are deployed. The impact extended beyond individual user inconvenience to potential business continuity issues, as device unavailability could affect productivity and communication capabilities.
The remediation for CVE-2018-4290 was addressed through Apple's security updates released as part of iOS 11.4.1 and watchOS 4.3.2. These updates implemented improved memory handling mechanisms that corrected the underlying flaws in the affected software versions. Organizations and users were strongly advised to apply these updates promptly to protect their devices from exploitation. The fix likely involved enhanced memory allocation routines, improved bounds checking mechanisms, and better resource management practices that prevent the conditions leading to the denial of service scenario. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date mobile device security patches and implementing robust mobile device management policies to ensure timely deployment of critical security updates across enterprise environments.