CVE-2016-1850 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
SceneKit in Apple OS X before 10.11.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1850 resides within Apple's SceneKit framework, a core component of macOS operating systems prior to version 10.11.5. This framework serves as a high-level 3D graphics rendering API that enables developers to create sophisticated visual content for applications. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be exploited through maliciously crafted SceneKit files, potentially allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems or induce denial of service conditions.
This vulnerability represents a classic heap-based buffer overflow scenario where improper input validation occurs during the parsing of SceneKit files. The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking when processing specially constructed 3D model data structures. Attackers can craft malicious files that, when opened by applications utilizing SceneKit, trigger memory corruption that may lead to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though it manifests in heap memory management rather than stack-based operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it affects a fundamental graphics rendering component that is widely used across macOS applications. Any application that leverages SceneKit for 3D content display becomes a potential target, including professional design tools, gaming applications, and multimedia software. The remote attack vector means that simply opening a malicious file could compromise a system without requiring user interaction beyond the initial file access. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently open compromised files from email attachments, web downloads, or shared network locations.
Security researchers have classified this vulnerability as a critical threat due to its potential for remote code execution and the widespread use of SceneKit across macOS applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a code injection technique where adversaries leverage memory corruption vulnerabilities to execute malicious payloads. Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate system updates to macOS 10.11.5 or later versions where Apple has patched the underlying memory handling issues. Additionally, organizations should implement application whitelisting policies that restrict the opening of untrusted 3D files and consider network-based filtering to block suspicious SceneKit content from external sources.
The vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of modern graphics rendering systems where seemingly benign file parsing operations can become attack vectors. Apple's response included comprehensive memory safety improvements in their SceneKit implementation, including enhanced input validation and stricter memory allocation practices. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing measures for applications that handle 3D content and establish robust incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires careful testing of updated systems to ensure compatibility with existing SceneKit-based applications while maintaining security posture against similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in other graphics frameworks.