CVE-2019-8541 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
A privacy issue existed in motion sensor calibration. This issue was addressed with improved motion sensor processing. This issue is fixed in iOS 12.2, watchOS 5.2. A malicious app may be able to track users between installs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-8541 represents a significant privacy concern within Apple's motion sensor calibration system that persisted across device installations. This issue stems from how motion sensor data is processed and stored, creating a persistent tracking mechanism that extends beyond individual application boundaries. The flaw allows for cross-install tracking capabilities that could potentially expose user behavior patterns and movement data over extended periods. The vulnerability specifically impacts iOS and watchOS platforms, where motion sensor calibration data becomes persistent across application installations, creating a unique attack surface that adversaries could exploit to maintain user tracking persistence.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of motion sensor calibration data within Apple's operating systems. When users calibrate motion sensors on their devices, the system stores calibration parameters that should ideally be device-specific and application-scoped. However, the flaw in the implementation allows these calibration parameters to persist in a manner that enables tracking across different application installations. This creates a persistent identifier that can be leveraged by malicious applications to correlate user activities and movements over time, fundamentally compromising user privacy. The issue falls under the category of information exposure through persistent identifiers, with potential implications for location tracking and behavioral analytics.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple tracking capabilities to encompass broader privacy implications for users of affected Apple devices. Malicious applications could potentially utilize this flaw to establish long-term tracking profiles that persist even after applications are uninstalled, creating a sophisticated surveillance mechanism that operates below the radar of typical security monitoring systems. This capability undermines user expectations of privacy between application installations and could enable adversaries to build detailed profiles of user behavior patterns, movement routines, and potentially sensitive location information. The vulnerability essentially creates a persistent tracking infrastructure that operates at the operating system level rather than application level, making it particularly concerning from a privacy standpoint.
The fix for CVE-2019-8541 involved implementing improved motion sensor processing mechanisms that prevent the persistence of calibration data across application installations. This remediation addresses the core issue by ensuring that motion sensor calibration parameters are properly scoped to individual applications and do not maintain cross-installation tracking capabilities. The update to iOS 12.2 and watchOS 5.2 represents a fundamental change in how the operating system handles motion sensor data, specifically addressing the information exposure vulnerability through enhanced data scoping and isolation mechanisms. This fix aligns with security best practices for preventing persistent tracking mechanisms and ensures that user privacy is maintained between application installations.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper data scoping and isolation within operating systems, particularly for sensors and tracking mechanisms that could be exploited for persistent surveillance. The issue highlights potential weaknesses in Apple's sensor processing architecture that could be categorized under CWE-200 for exposure of sensitive information and CWE-310 for cryptographic issues related to persistent identifiers. The attack surface for this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential harvesting, though specifically focusing on sensor-based tracking rather than traditional credential theft. This case emphasizes the need for comprehensive privacy controls in mobile operating systems and the critical importance of addressing sensor-based tracking mechanisms that could be exploited for long-term user monitoring.