CVE-2016-7608 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.2 is affected. The issue involves the "IOFireWireFamily" component, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7608 resides within Apple's macOS operating system and specifically affects versions prior to 10.12.2. This security flaw is categorized under the IOFireWireFamily component, which represents a critical subsystem responsible for FireWire hardware interface management within the kernel space of macOS. The vulnerability manifests as an information disclosure issue that enables local attackers to extract sensitive data from kernel memory through unspecified attack vectors. This represents a significant security concern as kernel memory often contains critical system information, credentials, and sensitive operational data that could be leveraged by malicious actors to compromise system integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure flaws that operate at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous due to the privileged access and sensitive data exposure potential. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes "Information Exposure" where information is exposed to unauthorized actors. The IOFireWireFamily component's improper handling of memory access controls or insufficient input validation creates opportunities for local users to perform memory reads that should normally be restricted to kernel-level processes only. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack pathways exist within the FireWire subsystem, potentially including improper access control mechanisms or memory management flaws that allow unauthorized memory probing.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7608 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential entry points for more sophisticated attacks within the macOS environment. Local users who can exploit this vulnerability gain access to kernel memory contents that may include cryptographic keys, system credentials, process information, and other sensitive operational data. This information can be leveraged to craft more targeted attacks or to bypass security controls that depend on the confidentiality of kernel-level information. The vulnerability's presence in FireWire subsystem is particularly concerning given that FireWire interfaces were commonly available on macOS systems and could potentially be exploited through physical access scenarios or when systems were connected to untrusted FireWire devices. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to T1059.003 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as the information disclosure can be used to facilitate further exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7608 primarily focus on updating to macOS 10.12.2 or later versions where Apple has implemented patches addressing the kernel memory access controls within the IOFireWireFamily component. System administrators should prioritize deployment of the official security updates and consider disabling FireWire interfaces when not actively required for hardware operations. Additional protective measures include implementing proper access controls and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and privilege separation to limit the potential impact if a local user successfully exploits this vulnerability. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel-level security controls and demonstrates how seemingly benign hardware interface components can become attack vectors when proper memory protection mechanisms are not adequately implemented.