Headline
Apple Rushes to Patch Zero-Day Flaws Exploited for Pegasus Spyware on iPhones
Apple on Thursday released emergency security updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS to address two zero-day flaws that have been exploited in the wild to deliver NSO Group’s Pegasus mercenary spyware. The issues are described as below -
CVE-2023-41061 - A validation issue in Wallet that could result in arbitrary code execution when handling a maliciously crafted attachment. CVE-2023-41064
Apple on Thursday released emergency security updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS to address two zero-day flaws that have been exploited in the wild to deliver NSO Group’s Pegasus mercenary spyware.
The issues are described as below -
- CVE-2023-41061 - A validation issue in Wallet that could result in arbitrary code execution when handling a maliciously crafted attachment.
- CVE-2023-41064 - A buffer overflow issue in the Image I/O component that could result in arbitrary code execution when processing a maliciously crafted image.
While CVE-2023-41064 was found by the Citizen Lab at the University of Torontoʼs Munk School, CVE-2023-41061 was discovered internally by Apple, with “assistance” from the Citizen Lab.
The updates are available for the following devices and operating systems -
- iOS 16.6.1 and iPadOS 16.6.1 - iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
- macOS Ventura 13.5.2 - macOS devices running macOS Ventura
- watchOS 9.6.2 - Apple Watch Series 4 and later
In a separate alert, Citizen Lab revealed that the twin flaws have been weaponized as part of a zero-click iMessage exploit chain named BLASTPASS to deploy Pegasus on fully-patched iPhones running iOS 16.6.
“The exploit chain was capable of compromising iPhones running the latest version of iOS (16.6) without any interaction from the victim,” the interdisciplinary laboratory said. “The exploit involved PassKit attachments containing malicious images sent from an attacker iMessage account to the victim.”
Additional technical specifics about the shortcomings have been withheld in light of active exploitation. That said, the exploit is said to bypass the BlastDoor sandbox framework set up by Apple to mitigate zero-click attacks.
“This latest find shows once again that civil society is targeted by highly sophisticated exploits and mercenary spyware,” Citizen Lab said, adding the issues were found last week when examining the device of an unidentified individual employed by a Washington D.C.-based civil society organization with international offices.
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Cupertino has so far fixed a total of 13 zero-day bugs in its software since the start of the year. The latest updates also arrive more than a month after the company shipped fixes for an actively exploited kernel flaw (CVE-2023-38606).
News of the zero-days comes as the Chinese government is believed to have ordered a ban prohibiting central and state government officials from using iPhones and other foreign-branded devices for work in an attempt to reduce reliance on overseas technology and amid an escalating Sino-U.S. trade war.
“The real reason [for the ban] is: cybersecurity (surprise surprise),” Zuk Avraham, security researcher and founder of Zimperium, said in a post on X. “iPhones have an image of being the most secure phone… but in reality, iPhones are not safe at all against simple espionage.”
“Don’t believe me? Just look at the number of 0-clicks commercial companies like NSO had over the years to understand that there is almost nothing an individual, an organization, or a government can do to protect itself against cyber espionage via iPhones.”
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Categories: Android Categories: Apple Categories: Exploits and vulnerabilities Tags: Pegasus Tags: spyware Tags: nso Tags: webp Tags: libwebp Tags: buffer overflow The company behind the infamous Pegasus spyware used a vulnerability in almost every browser to plant their malware on victim's devices. (Read more...) The post Pegasus spyware and how it exploited a WebP vulnerability appeared first on Malwarebytes Labs.
Apple has released yet another round of security patches to address three actively exploited zero-day flaws impacting iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and Safari, taking the total tally of zero-day bugs discovered in its software this year to 16. The list of security vulnerabilities is as follows - CVE-2023-41991 - A certificate validation issue in the Security framework that could allow a
Apple Security Advisory 2023-09-11-3 - macOS Big Sur 11.7.10 addresses buffer overflow and code execution vulnerabilities.
Apple Security Advisory 2023-09-11-2 - macOS Monterey 12.6.9 addresses buffer overflow and code execution vulnerabilities.
Apple Security Advisory 2023-09-11-1 - iOS 15.7.9 and iPadOS 15.7.9 addresses buffer overflow and code execution vulnerabilities.
Microsoft today issued software updates to fix at least five dozen security holes in Windows and supported software, including patches for two zero-day vulnerabilities that are already being exploited. Also, Adobe, Google Chrome and Apple iOS users may have their own zero-day patching to do.
Google on Monday rolled out out-of-band security patches to address a critical security flaw in its Chrome web browser that it said has been exploited in the wild. Tracked as CVE-2023-4863, the issue has been described as a case of heap buffer overflow that resides in the WebP image format that could result in arbitrary code execution or a crash. Apple Security Engineering and Architecture (SEAR
Categories: Exploits and vulnerabilities Categories: News Tags: Google Tags: Chrome Tags: CVE-2023-4863 Tags: WebP Tags: buffer overflow Tags: 116.0.5845.187/.188 Chrome users are being urged to patch a critical vulnerability for which an exploit is available. (Read more...) The post Update Chrome now! Google patches critical vulnerability being exploited in the wild appeared first on Malwarebytes Labs.
Categories: Exploits and vulnerabilities Categories: News Tags: Blastpass Tags: citizenlab Tags: pegasus Tags: nso Tags: cisa Tags: apple Tags: cve-2023-41064 Tags: cve-2023-41061 Tags: buffer overflow CISA has added two recently discovered Apple vulnerabilities to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities. (Read more...) The post Two Apple issues added by CISA to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities appeared first on Malwarebytes Labs.
Apple Security Advisory 2023-09-07-3 - watchOS 9.6.2 addresses a malicious attachment vulnerability that could be used to execute arbitrary code.
Apple Security Advisory 2023-09-07-2 - iOS 16.6.1 and iPadOS 16.6.1 addresses buffer overflow and code execution vulnerabilities.
Apple Security Advisory 2023-09-07-1 - macOS Ventura 13.5.2 addresses buffer overflow and code execution vulnerabilities.
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.5.2, iOS 16.6.1 and iPadOS 16.6.1. Processing a maliciously crafted image may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
A validation issue was addressed with improved logic. This issue is fixed in watchOS 9.6.2, iOS 16.6.1 and iPadOS 16.6.1. A maliciously crafted attachment may result in arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
This issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, macOS Monterey 12.6.8, tvOS 16.6, watchOS 9.6, macOS Ventura 13.5, iOS 15.7.8 and iPadOS 15.7.8. An app may be able to modify sensitive kernel state. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.7.1.
The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.6.8, macOS Ventura 13.5, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9. Processing a file may lead to unexpected app termination or arbitrary code execution.
The issue was addressed with improvements to the file handling protocol. This issue is fixed in iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6. An app may be able to break out of its sandbox.
Apple Security Advisory 2023-07-24-8 - watchOS 9.6 addresses bypass, code execution, and use-after-free vulnerabilities.
Apple Security Advisory 2023-07-24-7 - tvOS 16.6 addresses bypass, code execution, and use-after-free vulnerabilities.
Apple Security Advisory 2023-07-24-6 - macOS Big Sur 11.7.9 addresses code execution, out of bounds read, and use-after-free vulnerabilities.
Apple Security Advisory 2023-07-24-5 - macOS Monterey 12.6.8 addresses code execution, out of bounds read, and use-after-free vulnerabilities.
Apple Security Advisory 2023-07-24-4 - macOS Ventura 13.5 addresses bypass, code execution, out of bounds read, and use-after-free vulnerabilities.
Apple has rolled out security updates to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and Safari to address several security vulnerabilities, including one actively exploited zero-day bug in the wild. Tracked as CVE-2023-38606, the shortcoming resides in the kernel and permits a malicious app to modify sensitive kernel state potentially. The company said it was addressed with improved state management. "
Categories: Exploits and vulnerabilities Categories: News Tags: Apple Tags: WebKit Tags: CVE-2023-38606 Tags: CVE-2023-32409 Tags: CVE-2023-37450 Tags: CVE-2023-32416 Apple has released security updates for several products to address several serious vulnerabilities including some actively exploited zero-days. (Read more...) The post Update now! Apple fixes several serious vulnerabilities appeared first on Malwarebytes Labs.