CVE-2017-13823 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.13.1 is affected. The issue involves the "QuickTime" component. It allows attackers to bypass intended memory-read restrictions via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13823 represents a significant security flaw within Apple's QuickTime media framework affecting macOS versions prior to 10.13.1. This issue stems from improper memory access controls within the QuickTime component that enables malicious actors to circumvent intended security boundaries. The flaw specifically targets the memory-read restrictions that are fundamental to preventing unauthorized data access within the operating system's memory management architecture. Security researchers have classified this as a privilege escalation vulnerability that could allow attackers to access sensitive memory regions that should remain protected from unauthorized read operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits weaknesses in the QuickTime component's memory handling mechanisms, particularly around how it manages memory access permissions and boundary checks. Attackers can craft malicious applications that leverage this flaw to bypass the normal memory protection schemes that are designed to prevent unauthorized memory reads. This bypass capability represents a critical failure in the memory management subsystem where the intended security controls are effectively neutralized. The vulnerability operates at a low-level system interface where memory access controls should enforce strict boundaries between different memory segments and processes, but instead allows for unauthorized data retrieval through carefully constructed malicious payloads.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13823 extends beyond simple data theft as it provides attackers with the capability to access potentially sensitive information stored in memory regions that should remain protected. This includes but is not limited to user data, application memory contents, and potentially system-level information that could be used for further exploitation. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only a crafted application that can be delivered through various attack vectors including malicious downloads, email attachments, or compromised websites. The broad impact on macOS systems means that any user running affected versions of the operating system is at risk, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a widespread threat perspective.
Organizations and individuals should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of macOS 10.13.1 or later updates that contain the necessary patches to address this memory access control flaw. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory checks to identify all affected systems and ensure timely deployment of security updates across all macOS installations. The vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack mitigation frameworks where memory corruption issues are frequently leveraged for privilege escalation and information disclosure attacks. Security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts and implement additional defensive measures including application whitelisting and network monitoring to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. This issue demonstrates the importance of maintaining current system patches and highlights the critical role that timely security updates play in protecting against known vulnerabilities that could be exploited by threat actors.