iPhone, iPad bug lets hackers install evil apps by email, text – FireEye

Choosing a cloud hosting partner with confidence

Security researchers have delved further into the vulnerability in non-jailbroken iOS 7 and iOS 8 devices that was exploited by the WireLurker malware.

Dubbed a “Masque Attack”, the tactic allows hackers to install iOS apps on iPhone or iPad via email or text message. The attack takes advantage of a security weakness that allows an iOS app with the same file name – regardless of developer – to replace the legitimate app on a post-iOS 7 device while keeping all of the user’s data.

The vast majority (95 per cent) of all iOS devices are potentially vulnerable, according to researchers at security biz FireEye.

A demo video put together by FireEye shows how it might be possible to replace a real Gmail app with a fake utility in order to steal the user’s login credentials, as well as collect all of their emails.

So the Masque Attack creates a means to replace genuine apps with malware on non-jailbroken iOS devices using social engineering trickery. Masque Attacks can happen completely over the wireless network, without relying on an infected-computer-to-iThing USB connection to spread WireLurker.

The Masque Attack also creates a means for hackers to successfully skirt detection by mobile device management software by taking advantage of Apple’s private APIs, which are usually reserved for standard iOS apps.

"Apple has been informed in July 2014 about Masque Attack," a Fireye spokeswoman told El Reg. "As far as we know, they are working on a fix."

"This vulnerability exists because iOS doesn't enforce matching certificates for apps with the same bundle identifier and the attacker can craft the message shown to the user at install time,” the spokeswoman continued. “After the malware replaces an authentic app, the authentic app's local data were not removed and these data were accessible to the malware."

"Wirelurker is the first known malware using the Masque attack. Fortunately, it hasn't conducted more powerful attacks," she added.

FireEye's public release of information about the Masque Attack comes days after the discovery of WireLurker, the first malware capable of spreading onto non-jailbroken Apple iOS devices from infected Mac OS X systems.

If WireLurker shook up the widely held assumption that non-jailbroken iPhones and iPads were immune from malware, then the release of information about the Masque Attack further stirs the pot.

Pending the availability of a patch from Apple, FireEye advises iThings users to only install apps from Apple’s official App Store or the user’s own organisation, among other precautions. ®

Secure remote control for conventional and virtual desktops

from ffffff http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2014/11/10/ios_masque_attack/

via IFTTT