CVE-2016-4693 Apple CVE debrief

Who should care

Apple fleet administrators, mobile device management teams, endpoint security teams, and anyone operating iOS, macOS, or watchOS devices or services that still depend on 3DES should pay attention. This is especially relevant for environments with remote access, managed devices, or legacy cryptographic configurations.

Technical summary

The NVD classifies this issue as CWE-326 (Inadequate Encryption Strength). The vulnerability affects Apple devices through the Security component and is associated with 3DES usage. NVD lists CVSS 3.0 as AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, indicating a remotely reachable weakness with high confidentiality impact and no direct integrity or availability impact in the scoring model. The supplied description names affected versions as iOS before 10.2, macOS before 10.12.2, and watchOS before 3.1.3; the NVD CPE criteria also enumerate vulnerable ranges ending at iPhone OS 10.1.1, macOS 10.12.1, and watchOS 2.2.2, so version scope should be verified against the Apple advisories for the specific device family.

Defensive priority

High. Patch and validate exposure quickly if you manage Apple endpoints or any service that still allows 3DES, especially where systems are network-reachable.

Recommended defensive actions

• Install the Apple security updates referenced by the vendor advisories for the affected platforms, and confirm all eligible iOS, macOS, and watchOS devices are on patched releases.
• Inventory configurations and services that still negotiate 3DES, then disable or replace 3DES with stronger cryptography where possible.
• Use MDM, endpoint management, or asset inventory to verify patch coverage across managed Apple devices and identify any unsupported devices that cannot be remediated normally.
• Prioritize internet-facing, remotely managed, or high-value Apple endpoints first, since the CVSS vector indicates network attack, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction.

Evidence notes

This debrief is grounded in the supplied NVD CVE record and the Apple vendor advisories referenced there (HT207422, HT207423, HT207487). The NVD record provides the CVSS vector, CWE-326 classification, and vulnerable CPE criteria. One important nuance is that the prose description and the CPE version end points do not match exactly, so the exact affected build range should be confirmed against the Apple advisories for the relevant product line.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.