CVE-2016-4662 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.1 is affected. The issue involves the "AppleGraphicsControl" component. It 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 • 09/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4662 resides within Apple's macOS operating system, specifically affecting versions prior to 10.12.1. This security flaw is embedded within the AppleGraphicsControl component, which serves as a critical interface for graphics processing and system management functions. The issue represents a significant security concern as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and execute malicious code within the system's privileged context. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the graphics control framework, creating an avenue for exploitation that could compromise the integrity of the entire operating system.
The technical flaw manifests through memory corruption vulnerabilities within the AppleGraphicsControl component, which processes graphics-related commands and system calls. When a malicious application attempts to interact with this component through crafted inputs, it can trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions that allow unauthorized code execution. This vulnerability operates at a low system level where graphics processing interfaces meet kernel-level operations, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass standard security mechanisms. The flaw specifically impacts how the component handles memory allocation and deallocation during graphics processing operations, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures and execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to affected systems while potentially causing system instability or complete denial of service conditions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to deploy malware, steal sensitive data, or maintain unauthorized access to compromised systems without detection. The memory corruption aspect of the flaw can also lead to system crashes or reboots, creating potential denial of service scenarios that could disrupt critical operations. Organizations relying on macOS systems for business operations face significant risks as this vulnerability could be exploited by sophisticated threat actors to gain unauthorized access to sensitive corporate information or infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4662 primarily focus on updating to macOS 10.12.1 or later versions where Apple has implemented proper memory validation and input sanitization measures. System administrators should prioritize immediate deployment of the official security patches released by Apple to address the memory corruption issues within the AppleGraphicsControl component. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted graphics applications, monitoring system logs for unusual graphics processing activities, and conducting regular security assessments of macOS environments. Network segmentation and endpoint protection solutions can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while security teams should monitor threat intelligence feeds for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing of updated systems to ensure compatibility with existing applications while maintaining the security improvements provided by the patches. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a typical attack vector categorized under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting operating system kernel components for unauthorized access.