CVE-2016-1743 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The Intel driver in the Graphics Drivers subsystem 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, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1744.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1743 represents a critical security flaw within the Intel graphics driver implementation in Apple's macOS operating system. This issue affects versions prior to 10.11.4 and resides within the Graphics Drivers subsystem, specifically targeting the Intel driver component that manages graphics processing capabilities. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling mechanisms within the graphics driver code, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to gain elevated privileges or disrupt system operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a crafted application that manipulates the graphics driver interface in ways that trigger memory corruption conditions. When the affected Intel driver processes malicious graphics commands or data structures, it fails to properly validate input parameters, leading to buffer overflows or other memory corruption issues. This memory corruption can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively allowing attackers to bypass standard security boundaries and gain unauthorized access to system resources. The flaw operates at a privileged execution context, meaning successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise rather than mere denial of service.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to macOS users and organizations relying on Apple's operating system for their computing needs. The ability to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context means that attackers could install malware, modify system files, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within affected systems. The memory corruption aspect also creates potential for denial of service scenarios where system stability is compromised through kernel memory corruption. Organizations running macOS versions prior to 10.11.4 face increased risk of exploitation, particularly in environments where users may encounter malicious applications or where privilege escalation attacks are targeted.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes the weakness of stack-based buffer overflow, and relates to the broader category of memory safety issues that frequently appear in graphics driver implementations. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability would be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and potentially T1059, 'Command and Scripting Interpreter', as attackers could leverage the elevated privileges to execute additional malicious code. The attack vector involves social engineering or supply chain compromise to deliver the crafted application, making it particularly challenging to defend against through traditional network-based security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1743 primarily involve updating to Apple macOS version 10.11.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory corruption issues within the Intel graphics driver. System administrators should prioritize deployment of this security update across all affected macOS systems, particularly in enterprise environments where the risk of exploitation is higher. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unsigned or untrusted applications, monitoring for unusual graphics driver activity, and maintaining comprehensive system monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms and privilege separation techniques to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, though the nature of this vulnerability makes complete protection difficult without proper patching.