CVE-2016-7617 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.2 is affected. The issue involves the "Bluetooth" component. It allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (type confusion) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7617 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's Bluetooth implementation affecting macOS versions prior to 10.12.2. This issue resides within the Bluetooth subsystem and demonstrates how wireless communication components can become entry points for sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability specifically manifests as a type confusion error that occurs when processing maliciously crafted Bluetooth advertisements or connections, allowing attackers to exploit memory management flaws in the system's Bluetooth handling code.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper type checking mechanisms within the Bluetooth framework where the system fails to properly validate data types during Bluetooth packet processing. This type confusion vulnerability falls under the CWE-479 category, which specifically addresses the improper handling of data types in system components. When an attacker crafts a malicious Bluetooth application or device that sends specially formatted packets, the system's Bluetooth driver processes these packets without adequate type validation, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a pathway to achieve persistent access within macOS environments. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain root-level access to affected systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data exfiltration. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond establishing a Bluetooth connection, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Bluetooth devices are frequently paired or where attackers can position malicious devices within range of target systems. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where Bluetooth-enabled devices are commonly used and where attackers might exploit the vulnerability through social engineering or physical proximity attacks.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which describes the use of Bluetooth protocols for privilege escalation and code execution. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that macOS Bluetooth functionality is often enabled by default and frequently used for device pairing, creating numerous potential attack vectors. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including deploying macOS updates to version 10.12.2 or later, disabling Bluetooth when not in use, and implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, security monitoring should focus on unusual Bluetooth connection patterns and system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability can be used for both remote code execution and denial of service attacks.