CVE-2015-7003 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
coreaudiod in Audio in Apple OS X before 10.11.1 does not initialize an unspecified data structure, which allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7003 affects the coreaudiod service within Apple's macOS operating system, specifically versions prior to 10.11.1. This issue resides in the Audio component of the system and represents a critical security flaw that could enable remote code execution. The vulnerability stems from improper initialization of a data structure within the coreaudiod process, which is responsible for managing audio services and handling audio-related operations. When an attacker crafts a malicious application that interacts with this service, the uninitialized data structure creates an exploitable condition that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This flaw operates at the system level and could potentially allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where audio services are frequently utilized.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-457, which describes the use of uninitialized variables in software systems. The coreaudiod service, being a privileged system process, typically runs with elevated permissions and handles audio input/output operations for various applications. When the data structure remains uninitialized, memory corruption occurs that can be manipulated by an attacker to overwrite critical memory locations or redirect execution flow. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and represents a classic example of how improper initialization can create security holes in system-level services. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a crafted application that can trigger the specific code path within coreaudiod where the uninitialized structure is accessed, making it a targeted attack vector rather than a broad-based exploit.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7003 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway to establish persistent access within affected systems. Since coreaudiod runs with system privileges, successful exploitation could allow threat actors to install malware, modify system files, or even establish backdoors for continued access. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because audio services are commonly used by legitimate applications, making it difficult for security monitoring systems to distinguish between benign and malicious usage patterns. This creates a stealthy attack vector that could remain undetected for extended periods while providing attackers with significant control over the compromised system. Organizations using macOS versions prior to 10.11.1 face heightened risk of compromise, especially in environments where audio processing is frequent or where users may inadvertently execute malicious applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7003 primarily focus on updating to the patched version of macOS, specifically Apple OS X 10.11.1 or later, which addresses the uninitialized data structure issue in coreaudiod. System administrators should prioritize applying this update across all affected systems to eliminate the vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized applications that might trigger the vulnerability, monitoring for unusual audio service activity, and conducting regular security assessments of audio-related system components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence, as attackers could leverage the code execution capability to gain elevated system access and maintain long-term presence on compromised systems. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation, while security monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous behavior in audio service processes that could indicate exploitation attempts.