CVE-2015-1134 in MacOS X
Summary
by MITRE
fontd in Apple Type Services (ATS) in Apple OS X before 10.10.3 allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-1131, CVE-2015-1132, CVE-2015-1133, and CVE-2015-1135.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1134 resides within Apple Type Services, a critical component of Apple's operating system that manages font rendering and type services across macOS. This flaw specifically affects Apple OS X versions prior to 10.10.3, creating a privilege escalation pathway for local attackers who can leverage unspecified vectors to elevate their system access rights. The vulnerability operates within the fontd daemon process, which handles font-related operations and is responsible for managing the system's font cache and type services infrastructure. The security implications extend beyond simple local privilege escalation as this vulnerability represents a fundamental weakness in the operating system's font handling architecture that could potentially enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The affected component operates with elevated system permissions to ensure proper font rendering across applications, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to gain system-level access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of font data within the Apple Type Services framework, where the fontd process fails to properly validate or sanitize input received from font files or font-related operations. This flaw allows local users to craft malicious font data that can trigger unexpected behavior within the fontd daemon, potentially leading to memory corruption or privilege escalation. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack paths may exist through different font manipulation techniques, including malformed font files, specially crafted font metadata, or manipulation of font cache files. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic security weakness in system services that process untrusted data, where insufficient input validation creates opportunities for attackers to exploit memory management issues or access control flaws. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which covers stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions, though the exact technical mechanism remains unspecified in the public CVE description.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1134 represents a significant security risk for macOS systems running affected versions, as local attackers who already have user-level access can exploit this vulnerability to gain root privileges. This privilege escalation capability allows attackers to bypass normal system security controls, access protected system resources, modify critical system files, and potentially establish persistent access to the compromised system. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it affects a core system service that runs with elevated privileges and is integral to the normal operation of macOS applications. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install malware, steal sensitive data, modify system configurations, or create backdoors for continued access. The local nature of the attack means that an attacker must already have user-level access to the system, but the privilege escalation aspect makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can transform a simple user account into a system administrator level access. This vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in system services that handle user-provided data, as font files are commonly used by applications and can be manipulated by users or malicious software.
Organizations and system administrators should prioritize patching affected systems with macOS 10.10.3 or later versions to remediate this vulnerability, as the update addresses the underlying font handling mechanisms that enable the privilege escalation. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive system updates across all affected macOS installations, with particular attention to systems that may be running older versions of OS X. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unauthorized font installations or modifications to font cache files, as these activities may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining updated system components and applying security patches promptly, as this flaw existed in systems for several years before the patch was released. Additionally, organizations should implement proper access controls and monitoring for font-related services, as the vulnerability affects core system services that are critical to operating system functionality. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, and demonstrates how seemingly benign system components like font rendering can become attack vectors when proper security controls are not in place. The remediation process should include verification that the patch has been properly installed and that the fontd service is operating correctly without the vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as file integrity monitoring for system font directories and restricting user access to font-related system services where possible.