CVE-2016-1733 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
AppleRAID in Apple OS X before 10.11.4 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1733 resides within AppleRAID, a critical component of Apple's operating system that manages redundant array of independent disks configuration. This flaw affects Apple OS X versions prior to 10.11.4 and represents a significant security weakness that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain elevated privileges or disrupt system operations. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the AppleRAID subsystem, which processes disk array configurations and manages redundant storage operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption issues that occur when the AppleRAID driver processes malformed or specially crafted input from applications. Attackers can exploit this weakness by developing malicious applications that manipulate the RAID subsystem through carefully constructed data structures or buffer operations. The flaw allows for privilege escalation to kernel-level execution context, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios, both of which are common vectors for privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1733 extends beyond simple code execution, as it can also facilitate denial of service conditions that compromise system stability and availability. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause kernel panics, system crashes, or complete system lockups that render affected machines unusable. The attack surface is particularly concerning because AppleRAID operates at a low system level and is integral to disk management functionality, meaning that successful exploitation could compromise entire storage configurations and potentially lead to data loss or corruption. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.003, which describes the use of command and scripting interpreters, as attackers could leverage the privilege escalation to execute malicious payloads with elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to Apple OS X 10.11.4 or later versions where the issue has been patched by Apple. Organizations should prioritize patch management processes to ensure all affected systems receive the security update promptly. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring for unusual disk I/O patterns or kernel-level activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in kernel-level components and highlights the need for thorough input validation and memory management in system drivers. Security professionals should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple systems may be running vulnerable versions of the operating system.