CVE-2016-1744 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-2016-1743.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1744 represents a critical security flaw within the Intel graphics driver implementation in Apple's operating system ecosystem. This issue resides within the Graphics Drivers subsystem of OS X versions prior to 10.11.4, specifically affecting the privileged execution context where graphics processing operations occur. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management practices within the Intel driver component that handles graphics rendering tasks. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious applications that trigger memory corruption during graphics processing operations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the privileged kernel space.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where an attacker can manipulate memory access patterns to execute code in privileged contexts. The flaw operates by leveraging the graphics driver's handling of malformed or specially crafted graphics commands that are processed in kernel space. When the Intel driver processes these malicious inputs, it fails to properly validate buffer boundaries and memory allocations, resulting in memory corruption that can be exploited to gain elevated privileges. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it bridges the gap between user-space applications and kernel-space operations, allowing attackers to execute code with system-level privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for macOS systems running affected versions, as it enables attackers to perform arbitrary code execution without requiring physical access or additional exploitation techniques. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable full system compromise, as the attacker can execute malicious code with kernel-level privileges. This capability allows for persistent backdoor installation, data exfiltration, and complete system control. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service risk is also significant, as memory corruption can cause system crashes and instability, potentially leading to system-wide outages or data loss.
The exploitation of CVE-2016-1744 follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves local privilege escalation through kernel vulnerabilities. Attackers typically craft malicious applications that leverage graphics processing APIs to trigger the memory corruption, then execute shellcode within the kernel context. Mitigation strategies include applying the official security patches released by Apple for OS X 10.11.4 and subsequent versions, which address the memory management flaws in the Intel graphics driver. Organizations should also implement application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized applications from accessing graphics processing capabilities, and monitor for suspicious graphics-related system calls that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms that can detect and prevent memory corruption patterns associated with this vulnerability class.