CVE-2015-3707 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The FireWire driver in IOFireWireFamily in Apple OS X before 10.10.4 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3707 resides within the IOFireWireFamily component of Apple's macOS operating system, specifically affecting versions prior to 10.10.4. This flaw manifests in the FireWire driver implementation which governs the communication protocols for FireWire hardware interfaces. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the driver's handling of crafted applications that attempt to interact with FireWire devices. The issue represents a critical security weakness that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain elevated privileges or disrupt system operations through a NULL pointer dereference condition.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious application attempts to communicate with a FireWire device through the affected driver. The flaw arises from the driver's failure to properly validate or sanitize input data from the application before processing it within kernel space. When the driver encounters malformed or crafted data structures, it attempts to dereference a NULL pointer, leading to system instability or arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-476 category of NULL Pointer Dereference, which represents a common class of software defects that can lead to privilege escalation or denial of service conditions. The attack vector specifically targets the kernel-level FireWire driver, making it particularly dangerous as it operates with the highest system privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3707 extends beyond simple system crashes, as it provides attackers with a pathway to execute arbitrary code with root-level privileges. This privilege escalation capability means that an attacker could potentially gain complete control over the affected system, access sensitive data, install malicious software, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because FireWire interfaces are commonly found on laptops and desktop computers, and the attack can be executed remotely through physical access or through specially crafted applications that leverage the FireWire interface. The potential for denial of service attacks also represents a significant operational risk, as system administrators may face unexpected outages or crashes that could disrupt business operations. According to ATT&CK framework category T1068, this vulnerability could be classified as a privilege escalation technique that leverages kernel-level weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate system updates and access control measures. Apple released patches in macOS 10.10.4 that address the NULL pointer dereference issue by implementing proper input validation and memory management within the FireWire driver. Organizations should prioritize applying these security updates as soon as possible, as the vulnerability remains exploitable in unpatched systems. Additional defensive measures include disabling FireWire interfaces when not actively needed, implementing strict access controls for FireWire device connections, and monitoring system logs for unusual activity related to FireWire operations. Network administrators should also consider implementing endpoint protection solutions that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting kernel-level vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against privilege escalation attacks that target core operating system components.