Urgent Apple iOS and macOS Updates Released to Fix Actively Exploited Zero
Vulnerabilities mentionedAll →
| CVE | Vulnerability | CVSS | EPSS | Flags | Affected | Exposure | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2021-30858 +1 in the same advisory: …30869 | Use-After-Free in WebKit on Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Allows Arbitrary Code Execution CVE-2021-30858 is a use-after-free memory corruption flaw (CWE-416) in the web content processing component (WebKit) of Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, which Apple addressed with improved memory management. An attacker triggers it by getting a victim to process maliciously crafted web content, typically by visiting or being redirected to an attacker-controlled site, and successful exploitation leads to arbitrary code execution on the victim's device (CVSS 3.1: 8.8 High, network vector with user interaction required). Anyone running affected builds of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS, or the affected component on Fedora or Debian Linux per the CPE data, is exposed, since virtually all Apple devices process web content by default. Apple acknowledged that the flaw was being actively exploited, reportedly as part of NSO Group's 'ForcedEntry' targeted zero-day espionage chain, and CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2021-11-03. No public proof-of-concept is known, but the confirmed in-the-wild use makes rapid patching urgent. Do: Update iPhones and iPads to iOS/iPadOS 14.8 and Macs to macOS Big Sur 11.6 immediately, and on Fedora or Debian apply the distribution's updated WebKit packages. Use MDM or inventory data to confirm no managed devices remain on pre-patch builds, since the flaw was exploited as a zero-day in targeted espionage operations. This is a CISA KEV entry (added 2021-11-03), so the catalog's required action of applying vendor updates is mandatory for federal agencies and strongly recommended for everyone else. | 8.8 group max | 13% | KEV |
| mass>1 billion users/devices (Apple's 1B+ active device base, all of which carry the vulnerable web-content code path) | |
| CVE-2021-30860 | Integer Overflow in Apple PDF Processing Enables Arbitrary Code Execution (CVE-2021-30860) CVE-2021-30860 is an integer overflow (CWE-190) in PDF processing across Apple's platforms that was addressed with improved input validation. It is triggered when a device processes a maliciously crafted PDF — notably when a PDF is rendered after being received via messaging — and successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the PDF renderer. Affected products include iOS/iPadOS, macOS (Big Sur and Catalina), and watchOS, as well as the Xpdf and Poppler PDF libraries, which share lineage with the vulnerable code. Apple confirmed the issue was being actively exploited in the wild, and public reporting ties it to NSO Group's 'ForcedEntry' exploit chain used to deliver Pegasus spyware; CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2021-11-03. Given the very high EPSS score (76%, 99th percentile) and confirmed active exploitation, defenders should treat this as a high-priority patch. Do: Update iPhones/iPads to iOS/iPadOS 14.8, Macs to macOS Big Sur 11.6 (or apply Security Update 2021-005 Catalina), and Apple Watch to watchOS 7.6.2 immediately, and patch Poppler/Xpdf through distribution or vendor updates. Because the flaw was exploited via crafted PDFs delivered through messaging (ForcedEntry/Pegasus), organizations and individuals at risk of targeted spyware should also review devices for signs of compromise. CISA KEV requires applying updates per vendor instructions; prioritize internet-connected and high-value user endpoints. | 7.8 | 76% | KEV |
| mass>1 billion active Apple devices (iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches), plus Poppler present by default on most Linux desktops and servers |
Full article504 words · extracted from thehackernews.com · click to collapse
Ravie LakshmananSep 24, 2021
Apple on Thursday released security updates to fix multiple security vulnerabilities in older versions of iOS and macOS that it says have been detected in exploits in the wild, in addition to expanding patches for a previously plugged security weakness abused by NSO Group's Pegasus surveillance tool to target iPhone users.
Chief among them is CVE-2021-30869, a type confusion flaw that resides in the kernel component XNU developed by Apple that could cause a malicious application to execute arbitrary code with the highest privileges. The Cupertino-based tech giant said it addressed the bug with improved state handling.
Google's Threat Analysis Group, which is credited with reporting the flaw, said it detected the vulnerability being "used in conjunction with a N-day remote code execution targeting WebKit."
Two other flaws include CVE-2021-30858 and CVE-2021-30860, both of which were resolved by the company earlier this month following disclosure from the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab about a previously unknown exploit called "FORCEDENTRY" (aka Megalodon) that could infect Apple devices without so much as a click.
The zero-click remote attack weaponizing CVE-2021-30860 is said to have been carried out by a customer of the controversial Israeli company NSO Group since at least February 2021. The scale and scope of the operation remains unclear as yet.
It relied on iMessage as an entry point to send malicious code that stealthily installed the Pegasus spyware on the devices and exfiltrate sensitive data without tipping the victims off. The exploit is also significant for its ability to get around defenses built by Apple in iOS 14 — called BlastDoor — to prevent such intrusions by filtering untrusted data sent over the texting application.
The patches are available for devices running macOS Catalina and iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, and iPod touch (6th generation) running iOS 12.5.4.
The development also comes as security researchers have disclosed unpatched zero-day flaws in iOS, including a lock screen bypass bug and a clutch of vulnerabilities that could be abused by an app to gain access to users' Apple ID email addresses and full names, check if a specific app is installed on the device given its bundle ID, and even retrieve Wi-Fi information without proper authorization.
Researcher Denis Tokarev (aka illusionofchaos), who disclosed the latter three issues, said they were reported to Apple between March 10 and May 4, claiming what was "a frustrating experience participating in Apple Security Bounty program" for its failure to fix the issues despite having them responsibly disclosed "up to half a year" ago.
Indeed, a Washington Post article published two weeks ago revealed how the company sits on a "massive backlog" of vulnerability reports, leaving them unresolved for months, hands out lower monetary payouts to bug hunters, and, in some cases, outright bans researchers from its Developer Program for filing reports.
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Text extracted automatically; images, tables and formatting may be missing. Original: https://thehackernews.com/2021/09/urgent-apple-ios-and-macos-updates.html