CVE-2016-7629 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.2 is affected. The issue involves the "kext tools" component. It allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7629 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.12.2. This issue specifically targets the kext tools component which serves as a crucial interface for kernel extension management and development within the macOS ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the kernel extension tools that are responsible for managing kernel extensions on macOS systems. The kext tools component operates with elevated privileges and system-level access, making any flaw within this subsystem particularly dangerous as it could potentially be exploited to gain unauthorized system control.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious applications that can trigger memory corruption within the kext tools component when processing specially designed inputs. This memory corruption occurs during the kernel extension loading or execution phases where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied data. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing standard user access controls and system security boundaries. The vulnerability operates through a privilege escalation vector where a malicious application can leverage the kext tools functionality to gain root access or system-level control over the affected macOS system.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7629 extends beyond simple code execution as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited for various malicious activities including system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation. Attackers can utilize this vulnerability to install malicious kernel extensions that operate at the most privileged level of the operating system, making detection and removal extremely difficult. The memory corruption aspect of the vulnerability can also lead to system instability and denial of service conditions, potentially causing unexpected system crashes or reboots that disrupt normal operations. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where macOS systems are widely deployed and where a single compromised machine could potentially serve as a foothold for broader network infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate system updates and patch management to upgrade affected macOS installations to version 10.12.2 or later where the flaw has been addressed. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch deployment processes to ensure all affected systems receive the necessary security updates. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted applications, monitoring kernel extension loading activities for suspicious behavior, and conducting regular security audits of system configurations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 and CWE-122 categories related to stack-based buffer overflow and heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and maps to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing kernel-level vulnerabilities.