CVE-2023-42914 in watchOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2023
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14.2, iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2, watchOS 10.2, macOS Ventura 13.6.3, tvOS 17.2, iOS 16.7.3 and iPadOS 16.7.3, macOS Monterey 12.7.2. An app may be able to break out of its sandbox.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2024
This vulnerability represents a sandbox escape condition that emerged in Apple's operating systems, specifically affecting versions prior to the security updates released in 2023. The issue stems from inadequate memory handling mechanisms within the system's security framework, allowing malicious applications to potentially circumvent the sandbox restrictions that are fundamental to macOS and iOS security architecture. The vulnerability falls under the category of privilege escalation and sandbox bypass, which directly undermines the core security model that isolates applications from each other and from system resources. Such flaws represent critical weaknesses in the defense-in-depth strategy that Apple employs to protect user data and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory management flaws that enable an application to access memory regions or system resources that should be restricted to prevent unauthorized access. This memory handling issue creates a pathway for malicious code to exploit the sandbox boundaries, effectively allowing an app to break out of its isolated execution environment. The flaw likely involves improper validation of memory operations or insufficient bounds checking during system calls that are supposed to maintain the integrity of the sandboxed environment. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations that can lead to memory corruption and privilege escalation. The exploitability of such issues often requires sophisticated techniques that leverage memory corruption to manipulate system behavior and bypass security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple sandbox bypass to potentially enable broader system compromise and data access. When an application can escape its sandbox, it gains access to other applications' data, system resources, and potentially sensitive user information stored in protected areas of the system. This creates a significant risk for users who rely on the sandboxing mechanism to protect their privacy and security. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, indicating a systemic issue within Apple's security architecture rather than a platform-specific problem. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to access sensitive information, monitor user activities, or even install additional malicious software without user consent. The impact is particularly severe because it undermines the fundamental security model that Apple has built into its operating systems to prevent unauthorized access and maintain user privacy.
Apple addressed this vulnerability through comprehensive updates across all affected platforms, releasing patches for macOS Sonoma 14.2, iOS 17.2, watchOS 10.2, macOS Ventura 13.6.3, tvOS 17.2, and iOS 16.7.3. These updates implement improved memory handling mechanisms that prevent the exploitation of the sandbox escape vulnerability. The mitigation strategy focuses on strengthening the memory management subsystem and reinforcing the boundaries between sandboxed applications and system resources. Organizations and users should prioritize applying these updates immediately to protect against potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely fall under T1055 for process injection and T1070 for indicator removal, as attackers may attempt to maintain persistence or hide their activities after successful exploitation. System administrators should monitor for any signs of unauthorized application behavior or unexpected system access patterns that could indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. The patch addresses the root cause by implementing stricter memory validation and boundary checking, ensuring that applications cannot access memory regions outside their designated sandbox boundaries.