CVE-2014-8825 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The kernel in Apple OS X before 10.10.2 does not properly perform identitysvc validation of certain directory-service functionality, which allows local users to gain privileges or spoof directory-service responses via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8825 resides within the kernel implementation of Apple's macOS operating system, specifically affecting versions prior to 10.10.2. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the system's directory service validation mechanisms, where the identitysvc component fails to properly authenticate and validate directory service requests. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation procedures that should normally ensure the integrity and authenticity of directory service communications within the kernel space. The affected system components operate at the most privileged level of the operating system, making this issue particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to compromise the fundamental security architecture of the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in the kernel's directory service validation process where identitysvc does not adequately verify the authenticity of directory service requests. This validation failure creates a pathway for local attackers to manipulate directory service responses or escalate privileges within the system. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple attack surfaces within the directory service functionality could be exploited, potentially including authentication bypasses, privilege escalation mechanisms, or data manipulation attacks. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, meaning that successful exploitation could provide attackers with the highest level of system access, effectively undermining the operating system's security model.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations using affected macOS versions as it allows local users to potentially gain elevated privileges or manipulate directory service communications. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential identity spoofing capabilities that could compromise the integrity of user authentication systems. Attackers could exploit this weakness to impersonate legitimate users or services within the directory service framework, potentially gaining access to restricted resources or information. The local nature of the exploit means that any user with access to the system could potentially leverage this vulnerability, making it particularly concerning for environments where multiple users share systems or where user access controls are not properly enforced.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes inadequate access control in software systems, and represents a failure in proper privilege management within kernel space. From an attack framework perspective, this issue maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and credential access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to macOS 10.10.2 or later versions, which contain the necessary patches to address the validation flaws in identitysvc. Additionally, system administrators should review directory service configurations and implement additional monitoring for unusual directory service activity. The patch for this vulnerability addresses the core validation logic in the kernel's directory service handling, ensuring that identitysvc properly validates all directory service communications before processing them. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain regular security assessments of their macOS environments to identify similar vulnerabilities.