CVE-2016-1747 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
IOGraphics 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-2016-1746.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1747 resides within Apple's IOGraphics framework, a critical component of the operating system responsible for managing graphics hardware and display services. This flaw affects Apple OS X versions prior to 10.11.4 and represents a significant security concern that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain elevated privileges or disrupt system operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts the graphics subsystem's handling of crafted applications, creating a pathway for arbitrary code execution in privileged contexts or enabling denial of service conditions through memory corruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper input validation and memory management within the IOGraphics framework. When a malicious application attempts to interact with graphics hardware through the affected subsystem, the framework fails to properly validate the incoming data structures, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can result in memory corruption and privilege escalation. The flaw demonstrates characteristics of a buffer overflow or use-after-free condition within the graphics driver interface, where attacker-controlled data can manipulate the framework's memory layout.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1747 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can be leveraged to create persistent backdoors or enable more sophisticated attacks within the target system. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to install rootkits, modify system files, or establish covert communication channels that persist across reboots. The vulnerability's classification as a privilege escalation issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits, and T1543, which covers creating or modifying system level persistence mechanisms. The memory corruption aspect of the flaw also makes it suitable for denial of service attacks that could crash the graphics subsystem or cause complete system instability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1747 primarily focus on updating to Apple OS X 10.11.4 or later versions where the vulnerability has been patched. System administrators should prioritize immediate deployment of the security update, as the vulnerability provides attackers with a direct path to kernel-level execution. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted applications, monitoring system logs for unusual graphics driver activity, and maintaining regular security assessments of the operating system environment. The patch addresses the underlying memory management issues in the IOGraphics framework and includes enhanced input validation mechanisms that prevent the exploitation scenarios described in the vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and endpoint detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts before they can succeed.