CVE-2023-42916: Critical Out-of-bounds Read Addressed in Apple's iOS, iPadOS, macOS and Safari

Attention all Apple device users! Apple has released a crucial fix for a security vulnerability labeled as CVE-2023-42916. This issue revolves around an out-of-bounds read, which was addressed by enhancing input validation in the recent updates.

In this blog post, we will discuss the details of this vulnerability, its potential impact, and the steps you should take to safeguard your devices.

What is CVE-2023-42916?

CVE-2023-42916 pertains to an out-of-bounds read vulnerability found in various Apple products like iOS, iPadOS, macOS Sonoma, and Safari. This vulnerability may enable hackers to disclose sensitive information by leveraging web content processing.

Apple has acknowledged a report stating that this security flaw might have been exploited against previous iOS versions, particularly before iOS 16.7.1.

How does the vulnerability work?

An attacker might exploit this security issue by crafting a peculiar web content payload, enticing you to visit the harmful website or manipulating a legitimate website. The attacker can then leverage the out-of-bounds read vulnerability to access vital information that should be inaccessible under normal circumstances.

Below is a code snippet providing a conceptual representation of the vulnerability (note that this is just an illustration and not the exact exploit code):

char *input_buffer; // Input data from the web is stored here
int length; // Length of the input data

// ... some previous code ...

char *output_buffer = (char *)malloc(length); // Allocate memory for output

for(int i = ; i <= length; i++) {
   output_buffer[i] = input_buffer[i]; // Copy data from input_buffer to
                                       // output_buffer (out-of-bounds read access)
}

// ... some processing code ...

As exhibited in the code snippet above, the input data from the web is read into an output buffer without scrutiny. To illustrate the out-of-bounds read, the loop copies the data from the input buffer to the output buffer without adequately verifying whether it's within the allocated range. Consequently, this uncontrolled access could potentially disclose critical information in memory.

What has Apple done to address this issue?

Apple has issued patches for the affected products by improving input validation. The updates are available in iOS 17.1.2, iPadOS 17.1.2, macOS Sonoma 14.1.2, and Safari 17.1.2. Upgrading your devices to the latest versions containing these updates will help mitigate this vulnerability.

You can find additional information on the CVE-2023-42916 vulnerability in Apple's security advisory

- Apple's Security Updates
- CVE-2023-42916 Details on MITRE's CVE List

To secure your devices against this vulnerability, take the following precautions

1. Update your iOS, iPad, macOS, and Safari to their latest versions, ensuring that you have the patches released by Apple.
- For iOS and iPadOS, open the Settings app, then go to General > Software Update, and follow the instructions.

For macOS Sonoma, open System Preferences, click on Software Update, and follow the instructions.

- For Safari, ensure that you have the latest version of macOS or iOS installed, as Safari updates are bundled with the system updates.

Exercise caution while browsing the web and avoid visiting unfamiliar or sketchy websites.

3. Be wary of clicking unsolicited links, especially those that appear in emails, text messages, or social media.

Stay safe out there, and don't forget to keep your Apple devices updated to protect your sensitive information from the CVE-2023-42916 vulnerability!

Timeline

Published on: 11/30/2023 23:15:07 UTC
Last modified on: 12/13/2023 03:15:47 UTC