CVE-2019-8554 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
A permissions issue existed in the handling of motion and orientation data. This issue was addressed with improved restrictions. This issue is fixed in iOS 12.2. A website may be able to access sensor information without user consent.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-8554 represents a critical permissions flaw in iOS systems that allowed websites to access motion and orientation sensor data without proper user consent. This issue specifically affected the handling of device sensor information within the mobile operating system's security framework, creating a significant privacy risk for users who were unaware their device's motion sensors were being accessed. The flaw existed in the way iOS managed sensor data permissions, particularly for devices equipped with motion detection capabilities such as accelerometers and gyroscopes that track device orientation and movement patterns.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stemmed from insufficient access controls within the iOS sensor subsystem, allowing malicious websites to bypass normal permission prompts and directly access motion and orientation data. This issue falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically involving improper access control mechanisms that permit unauthorized data access. The vulnerability exploited the gap between user consent mechanisms and actual sensor data access, enabling websites to collect sensitive information about device movement and orientation without explicit user knowledge or approval. This type of flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege, where applications and websites should not have access to sensor data beyond what is explicitly permitted by the user.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8554 extends beyond simple privacy concerns to encompass potential security risks that could be exploited for tracking and surveillance purposes. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gather detailed information about user behavior patterns, device usage locations, and movement tracking data, which could be combined with other data sources to create comprehensive user profiles. The vulnerability particularly affected mobile users who relied on iOS devices for sensitive communications and personal activities, as it created opportunities for unauthorized data collection that could compromise user anonymity and security. This type of sensor data access could be particularly dangerous in contexts involving sensitive communications, corporate security, or personal safety scenarios where device movement tracking could reveal confidential information.
The fix for this vulnerability involved implementing improved restrictions on motion and orientation sensor data access, requiring explicit user consent before websites could access such information. Apple addressed this issue through iOS 12.2 updates, which strengthened the permission model for sensor data access and enforced stricter controls over how web applications could interact with device motion sensors. This remediation aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and information gathering, where adversaries would attempt to access sensitive device information without proper authorization. Organizations should ensure all iOS devices are updated to version 12.2 or later to mitigate this vulnerability, as the fix implements proper access controls that align with security best practices established in industry standards for mobile device security management and sensor data protection protocols.