CVE-2017-13810 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.13.1 is affected. The issue involves the "Kernel" component. It allows local users to obtain sensitive information by leveraging an error in packet counters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13810 represents a significant security flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.13.1. This issue resides within the kernel component of the operating system, which serves as the core foundation responsible for system-level operations and resource management. The kernel acts as the bridge between hardware and software, making it a critical component that requires robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access or information disclosure. The flaw specifically manifests in how the system handles packet counters, which are essential metrics used to track network traffic and monitor system performance. These counters play a vital role in network monitoring and security auditing processes, making their integrity crucial for maintaining system security.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from an error in the packet counter implementation within the kernel's network subsystem. When network packets are processed, the system maintains various counters to track statistics such as packet transmission rates, error counts, and other network metrics. The flaw occurs when these counters are not properly initialized or managed during specific network operations, leading to information leakage through memory contents that should remain protected. Local users can exploit this weakness by crafting specific network operations that trigger the faulty counter handling mechanism. This allows them to read memory locations that contain sensitive information from other processes or system components, effectively bypassing normal access controls and information protection mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates poor memory management practices and insufficient validation of counter states during network processing operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13810 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides local attackers with the ability to extract potentially sensitive data from system memory. This type of vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users or applications share the same system, as it could enable an attacker to access information belonging to other processes or even system-level data. The local nature of the exploit means that an attacker must already have user-level access to the system, but this is often achievable through social engineering, phishing attacks, or other initial compromise techniques. Once exploited, the vulnerability could potentially reveal process memory contents, system configuration details, or even cryptographic keys used by other applications. This information could then be leveraged to conduct more sophisticated attacks or to escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which deals with insufficient logging or monitoring, and represents a classic example of information exposure through improper error handling in kernel space.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability falls under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1059 for command and control communications, as the information obtained could be used to better understand system configurations and plan further attacks. The vulnerability also relates to T1068, which covers privilege escalation techniques, since access to additional memory contents could potentially reveal system weaknesses or credentials. Security professionals should note that this issue exemplifies the critical importance of kernel security and proper memory management in operating systems. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in core system components can lead to significant information disclosure risks. Organizations should prioritize updating affected systems to macOS 10.13.1 or later versions to mitigate this risk, as Apple released patches specifically addressing the kernel packet counter handling issue. Additionally, system administrators should implement proper monitoring and logging to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive security posture through regular vulnerability assessments and system updates.