📄 Description (English)
Apple iOS Information Disclosure Vulnerability — The Apple iOS kernel allows attackers to obtain sensitive information from memory via a crafted application.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2016-4655 is a critical information disclosure vulnerability in the Apple iOS kernel that allows attackers to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory via a crafted application. This vulnerability was part of the infamous 'Trident' exploit chain used by the NSO Group's Pegasus spyware to conduct targeted surveillance. It has known active exploitation in the wild and was specifically used against human rights activists and journalists. The vulnerability carries a CVSS score of 9.0 and has publicly available exploits, making immediate patching essential.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 5, 2026 21:17
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability is of extreme concern for Saudi organizations given the documented use of Pegasus spyware in the Middle East region. Government agencies (NCA-regulated), diplomatic entities, and high-profile individuals in Saudi Arabia are prime targets for state-sponsored surveillance using this exploit chain. Banking sector (SAMA-regulated) executives and employees with access to sensitive financial systems on iOS devices are at risk. Energy sector organizations including ARAMCO and its subsidiaries, telecom operators like STC, Mobily, and Zain, and defense entities are particularly vulnerable if employees use unpatched iOS devices for corporate communications. The vulnerability enables kernel memory disclosure which can be chained with other exploits for full device compromise, potentially exposing classified government communications and sensitive corporate data.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government
Banking
Energy
Telecom
Defense
Diplomatic
Healthcare
Media
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
9.5
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
Immediate Actions:
1. Update all Apple iOS devices to iOS 9.3.5 or later immediately — this patch was released by Apple specifically to address the Trident exploit chain
2. Conduct an inventory of all iOS devices connected to corporate networks and MDM systems
3. Enforce mandatory OS version requirements through MDM policies — block devices running iOS versions below 9.3.5
Detection and Monitoring:
4. Monitor MDM logs for devices with outdated iOS versions
5. Implement mobile threat detection (MTD) solutions to detect exploitation attempts
6. Review network logs for connections to known Pegasus C2 infrastructure indicators
7. Use tools like MVT (Mobile Verification Toolkit) by Amnesty International to scan devices for Pegasus indicators
Compensating Controls:
8. Restrict installation of applications from untrusted sources
9. Disable clicking on links from unknown senders
10. Implement network segmentation to limit access from mobile devices to critical systems
11. Deploy secure communication applications for sensitive discussions
12. Consider device replacement for any iOS devices that cannot be updated to patched versions
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديث جميع أجهزة Apple iOS إلى الإصدار 9.3.5 أو أحدث فوراً — تم إصدار هذا التحديث خصيصاً لمعالجة سلسلة استغلال ترايدنت
2. إجراء جرد لجميع أجهزة iOS المتصلة بالشبكات المؤسسية وأنظمة إدارة الأجهزة المحمولة
3. فرض متطلبات إلزامية لإصدار نظام التشغيل عبر سياسات إدارة الأجهزة المحمولة — حظر الأجهزة التي تعمل بإصدارات أقل من 9.3.5
الكشف والمراقبة:
4. مراقبة سجلات إدارة الأجهزة المحمولة للأجهزة ذات الإصدارات القديمة
5. تطبيق حلول كشف تهديدات الأجهزة المحمولة للكشف عن محاولات الاستغلال
6. مراجعة سجلات الشبكة للاتصالات بمؤشرات البنية التحتية المعروفة لبيغاسوس
7. استخدام أدوات مثل MVT لفحص الأجهزة بحثاً عن مؤشرات بيغاسوس
الضوابط التعويضية:
8. تقييد تثبيت التطبيقات من مصادر غير موثوقة
9. تعطيل النقر على الروابط من مرسلين مجهولين
10. تطبيق تجزئة الشبكة للحد من وصول الأجهزة المحمولة إلى الأنظمة الحرجة
11. نشر تطبيقات اتصال آمنة للمحادثات الحساسة
12. النظر في استبدال أي أجهزة iOS لا يمكن تحديثها إلى الإصدارات المصححة
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC-2:3-1 (Asset Management)
ECC-2:5-1 (Vulnerability Management)
ECC-2:4-2 (Endpoint Protection)
ECC-2:2-1 (Risk Management)
ECC-2:6-1 (Incident Management)
🔵 SAMA CSF
3.3.3 (Patch Management)
3.3.4 (Endpoint Security)
3.3.7 (Mobile Device Management)
3.4.1 (Vulnerability Management)
3.1.3 (Risk Assessment)
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.8.1 (User Endpoint Devices)
A.8.8 (Management of Technical Vulnerabilities)
A.8.9 (Configuration Management)
A.5.7 (Threat Intelligence)
A.6.7 (Remote Working)
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0
6.3.3 (Patching Security Vulnerabilities)
5.2 (Malicious Software Prevention)
11.3 (Vulnerability Scanning)
🔗 References & Sources 0
No references.
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
Apple:iOS