High

Kernel Arbitrary Code Execution in Apple iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS

IdentifiersCVE-2018-4340CWE-119· Improper Restriction of Operations…

CVE-2018-4340 is a kernel memory corruption vulnerability in Apple operating systems fixed in iOS 12, macOS Mojave 10.14, tvOS 12, and watchOS 5. The flaw was addressed through improved memory handling. Successful exploitation could allow an application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Public mention context identifies the issue as a kernel bug and indicates it was relevant to Safari sandbox escape research on macOS, but the specific vulnerable kernel function or code path is not available from the provided information.

For your environment

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation can result in arbitrary code execution in kernel context. This would allow complete compromise of the affected device, including elevation from application-level execution to the highest privilege level, bypass of operating system security boundaries, access to restricted memory and protected resources, and the ability to destabilize or fully control the system.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

Where immediate patching is not possible, reduce exposure by limiting execution of untrusted applications and content on affected devices, enforcing application allowlisting and mobile device management controls where available, and restricting use of vulnerable systems for high-risk activities until updates are installed. Because this is a kernel memory corruption issue, mitigation short of patching is inherently limited.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply the vendor fixes by upgrading to iOS 12 or later, macOS Mojave 10.14 or later, tvOS 12 or later, and watchOS 5 or later. The issue was addressed by improved memory handling in the affected kernel code.

PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType

AppleIphone Osoperating_system

AppleMac Os Xoperating_system

AppleTvosoperating_system

AppleWatchosoperating_system

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

2 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

2 SOURCESView more in app

apple supportNews

Nov 3, 2023

About the security content of iOS 12

A kernel memory corruption vulnerability that could allow arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges.

codecolorist blogNews

May 27, 2020

Revisiting An Old MediaRemote Bug (CVE-2018-4340)

A macOS Safari sandbox escape involving the MediaRemote framework/XPC service that allowed a sandboxed process to spoof a bundle identifier and trigger launching of arbitrary installed applications via mediaremoted.

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.

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Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity