CVE-2019-8532 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2020
A permissions issue was addressed by removing vulnerable code and adding additional checks. This issue is fixed in watchOS 5.2, iOS 12.2. A malicious application may be able to access restricted files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical permissions flaw in Apple's mobile operating systems that allowed unauthorized applications to access restricted files and system resources. The issue stems from insufficient access controls and inadequate validation mechanisms within the operating system's permission model, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass normal security boundaries. The vulnerability specifically affected watchOS 5.2 and iOS 12.2, indicating that the flaw existed in the system's core file access and privilege management components. According to CWE classification, this corresponds to CWE-284: Improper Access Control, which encompasses weaknesses that allow unauthorized access to resources through insufficient permission checks or inadequate access control mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability likely involved a flaw in how the operating system validated application permissions when accessing sensitive files or system resources. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness by crafting malicious applications that leverage the compromised permission checks to gain access to restricted data that should only be available to system processes or authorized applications. The vulnerability's nature suggests that the system's access control lists or permission validation routines were either bypassed entirely or contained logic errors that allowed privilege escalation. This type of flaw typically operates at the kernel level or core system services where file access controls are enforced, making it particularly dangerous as it could potentially enable complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it could enable attackers to extract sensitive user data, modify system configurations, or establish persistent access to affected devices. Mobile devices running the vulnerable versions become susceptible to data exfiltration attacks where malicious applications could access personal information, communications, or other confidential data stored within the system. The threat landscape for such vulnerabilities includes mobile malware campaigns, targeted attacks against high-value individuals, and supply chain compromises where malicious applications could be distributed through official app stores. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1070: Indicator Removal on Host, as it could enable attackers to establish persistent access and potentially hide their activities within the compromised system.
The remediation for this vulnerability involved Apple's implementation of additional permission checks and the removal of vulnerable code paths that previously allowed unauthorized access to restricted resources. The fix required modifications to the operating system's core access control mechanisms, likely including enhanced validation routines, stricter enforcement of permission boundaries, and potentially the removal of legacy code that contained the flawed access control logic. Organizations should ensure that all affected devices are updated to watchOS 5.2 and iOS 12.2 immediately, as these updates contain the necessary security patches to close the access control gap. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement network monitoring to detect suspicious access patterns that might indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability.