CVE-2016-7661 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.2 is affected. macOS before 10.12.2 is affected. The issue involves the "Power Management" component. It allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors related to Mach port name references.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7661 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Apple's operating systems affecting iOS versions prior to 10.2 and macOS versions prior to 10.12.2. This security issue resides within the Power Management component of Apple's software ecosystem, which governs how system resources are allocated and managed during various operational states. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of Mach port name references, which are fundamental communication mechanisms within the Mach microkernel that underlies Apple's operating systems. These port references serve as the primary means for processes to communicate with each other and with the kernel itself, making them critical components in system security architecture.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows local attackers to exploit unspecified vectors related to Mach port name references within the Power Management subsystem. This flaw enables unauthorized users to escalate their privileges from standard user level to administrative privileges without proper authentication or authorization. The issue stems from improper validation or handling of Mach port names during power management operations, potentially allowing malicious code to manipulate system resources or gain access to privileged operations that should be restricted to system processes only. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability falls under CWE-264, which encompasses permissions, privileges, and access control issues, specifically manifesting as improper privileges during power management operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with elevated system access that could enable further exploitation or persistent access to affected systems. Local users who can execute code on a vulnerable system can leverage this flaw to bypass normal security restrictions and potentially access sensitive system functions, modify critical system files, or establish persistence mechanisms. The Power Management component is particularly sensitive because it operates at system level and interacts with hardware components during sleep, wake, and power state transitions, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking long-term system control. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves the use of privilege escalation techniques to gain elevated system privileges.
System administrators and security professionals should prioritize patching affected systems immediately, as this vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations relying on Apple products. The remediation process requires updating to iOS 10.2 or later and macOS 10.12.2 or later, which contain the necessary security patches to address the Mach port name reference handling issues. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious privilege escalation attempts and review system access controls to minimize potential impact. Given the nature of the vulnerability, regular security assessments of system components and proper implementation of the principle of least privilege should be maintained. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper kernel-level privilege management and the potential consequences when system components fail to properly validate inter-process communication mechanisms.