CVE-2016-1846 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The NVIDIA Graphics Drivers subsystem in Apple OS X before 10.11.5 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 • 11/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1846 resides within the NVIDIA Graphics Drivers subsystem integrated into Apple's macOS operating system prior to version 10.11.5. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that affects the core graphics processing functionality of affected systems, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain elevated privileges or disrupt system operations. The issue specifically impacts the interaction between NVIDIA's graphics driver components and Apple's operating system architecture, creating a dangerous convergence point where user-space applications can manipulate kernel-level graphics processing functions.
Technical analysis reveals that this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the graphics driver's privileged execution context. The flaw allows attackers to craft malicious applications that can trigger memory corruption conditions when the graphics driver processes specific graphical data or commands. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which encompasses out-of-bounds read errors that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of a kernel-level exploit where user-mode applications can manipulate kernel memory structures through improper validation of graphics processing commands, potentially leading to privilege escalation from user context to kernel context.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1846 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates opportunities for both persistent attacks and system instability. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing standard operating system security controls and potentially gaining complete system control. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability also means that systems could experience unexpected crashes or denial of service conditions, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where system availability is critical. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes "Local Port Configuration" and privilege escalation methods through kernel exploits, representing a significant threat to macOS security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1846 focus primarily on immediate system updates and security hardening measures. Apple's release of macOS 10.11.5 addressed this vulnerability through patches that improved input validation within the graphics driver subsystem and enhanced memory management controls. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of this update across all affected systems, as the vulnerability provides attackers with a straightforward path to system compromise. Additional mitigations include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted graphics processing applications, monitoring for unusual graphics driver behavior, and maintaining comprehensive system monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and timely patch management, particularly for third-party driver components that operate with elevated privileges within operating system architectures.