CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2019-8605Exploited in the wildNVD status: Analyzed

Apple Multiple Products Use-After-Free

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2019-8605 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in iOS from Apple, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an unauthenticated attacker, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. The record lists version iOS 12.3 as the first without the flaw, so updating iOS to that release or later removes the exposure. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on June 27, 2022, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.

Patch now

Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.

What to do

  1. Update iOS to iOS 12.3 or a later version.
  2. Update macOS to macOS Mojave 10.14.5 or a later version.
  3. Update tvOS to tvOS 12.3 or a later version.
  4. CISA's required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
  5. Read the advisory on support.apple.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  6. Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
AppleiOSbefore iOS 12.3iOS 12.3
ApplemacOSbefore macOS Mojave 10.14.5macOS Mojave 10.14.5
AppletvOSbefore tvOS 12.3tvOS 12.3
ApplewatchOSbefore watchOS 5.2.1watchOS 5.2.1
AppleIphone OSbefore 12.312.3
AppleMac OS Xbefore 10.14.510.14.5

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
RequiredA user must take an action such as opening a file or link.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.8HighNVD
CVSS 3.17.8HighCISA (ADP)
CVSS 2.09.3HighNVD

Official description

A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 12.3, macOS Mojave 10.14.5, tvOS 12.3, watchOS 5.2.1. A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with system privileges.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Use After Free

The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory belongs to the code that operates on the new pointer.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
  • When freeing pointers, be sure to set them to NULL once they are freed. However, the utilization of multiple or complex data structures may lower the usefulness of this strategy.

More Use After Free vulnerabilities (CWE-416)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
  3. Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
  4. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  5. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Third-party and government advisories

Other vulnerabilities in iOS

All iOS vulnerabilities

Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities

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