CVE-2019-9536 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2019-9536 article provides insights into a vulnerability affecting Apple iPhone 3GS devices, known as 'alloc8', allowing unauthorized firmware installation.

Understanding CVE-2019-9536

CVE-2019-9536 is a security vulnerability impacting the bootrom malloc implementation of the Apple iPhone 3GS, potentially exploited by attackers with physical device access.

What is CVE-2019-9536?

The vulnerability in the iPhone 3GS bootrom malloc implementation allows an attacker to install unauthorized firmware by exploiting a non-NULL pointer return when memory allocation fails.

The Impact of CVE-2019-9536

The 'alloc8' vulnerability poses a medium severity risk with high confidentiality and integrity impacts, requiring no user interaction but physical access to the device for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-9536

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE-2019-9536 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The insecure malloc implementation in the iPhone 3GS bootrom returns a non-NULL pointer when unable to allocate memory, enabling unauthorized firmware installation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: iPhone
Vendor: Apple
Affected Version: 3GS

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Physical
Privileges Required: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality Impact: High
Integrity Impact: High
User Interaction: None
Availability Impact: None

Mitigation and Prevention

Protective measures and actions to mitigate the CVE-2019-9536 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement physical security measures to prevent unauthorized access to devices.
Regularly monitor for any unauthorized firmware installations.

Long-Term Security Practices

Keep devices updated with the latest security patches and firmware releases.
Educate users on the risks of physical device access by unauthorized individuals.

Patching and Updates

Apply official patches and updates provided by Apple to address the 'alloc8' vulnerability.