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MULTIPLE VULNERABILITIES IN APPLE PRODUCTS DETECTED

A cybersecurity advisory was issued yesterday, Jan. 27, 2021, regarding multiple vulnerabilities in Apple products. The vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code, which could potentially lead to a breach.

What It Is:

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Apple products, the most severe of which could allow for arbitrary code execution.
  • tvOS is an operating system for the fourth-generation Apple TV digital media player.
  • watchOS is the mobile operating system for the Apple Watch and is based on the iOS operating system.
  • iPadOS is the successor to iOS 12 and is a mobile operating system for iPads.
  • iOS is a mobile operating system for mobile devices, including the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
  • Xcode is an integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS.
Successful exploitation of the most severe of these vulnerabilities could result in arbitrary code execution within the context of the application, an attacker gaining the same privileges as the logged-on user, or the bypassing of security restrictions. Depending on the permission associated with the application running the exploit, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data.

Read the original Apple Security Updates below for more information:

Threat Intelligence:

There are reports of the following vulnerabilities currently being actively exploited in the wild:
  • CVE-2021-1782: iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS vulnerability that enables privilege escalation.
  • CVE-2021-1870: WebKit vulnerability that enables arbitrary code execution.
  • CVE-2021-1800: Xcode vulnerability that enables arbitrary file access.

Systems Affected:

  • iOS versions prior to iOS 14.4
  • iPadOS versions prior to iPadOS 14.4
  • tvOS versions prior to tvOS 14.4
  • watchOS versions prior to watchOS 7.3
  • Xcode versions prior to Xcode 12.4

Risk:

Government:

  • Large and medium government entities: High
  • Small government entities: Medium

Businesses:

  • Large and medium business entities: High
  • Small business entities: Medium

Home users: Low

What It Means:

If you and/or your business utilize the Apple products mentioned above, you will need to apply the appropriate patches provided by Apple to vulnerable systems immediately following proper testing.

Technical Summary:

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and Xcode, the most severe of which could allow for arbitrary code execution. Details of these vulnerabilities are as follows:

iPadOS 14.4, iOS 14.4, tvOS 14.4 and watchOS 7.3
  • A logic issue was addressed with improved restrictions. (CVE-2021-1870, CVE-2021-1871)
  • A race condition was addressed with improved locking. (CVE-2021-1782)
Xcode 12.4
  • A path handling issue was addressed with improved validation. (CVE-2021-1800)

What To Do:

We recommend the following actions be taken:
  • Apply appropriate patches provided by Apple to vulnerable systems immediately after appropriate testing.
  • Run all software as a nonprivileged user (one without administrative privileges) to diminish the effects of a successful attack.
  • Remind users not to download, accept or execute files from untrusted and unknown sources.
  • Remind users not to visit untrusted websites or follow links provided by untrusted or unknown sources.
  • Evaluate read, write, and execute permissions on all newly installed software.
  • Apply the Principle of Least Privilege to all systems and services.
 

Negative Consequences of Lost or Stolen Data:

The loss or theft of proprietary data can have severe impacts, particularly if the compromise becomes public and sensitive information is exposed. Possible impacts include:
  • Temporary or permanent loss of sensitive or proprietary information.
  • Disruption to regular operations.
  • Financial losses incurred to restore systems and files.
  • Potential harm to an organization’s reputation.
Should your agency or business need assistance with issues arising from vulnerabilities in Apple products including updates and/or patches, Dox can help. Please contact Dox if there is anything we can do to assist in securing your agency, business, or organization.

Thank you for your time and stay safe online.
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