CVE-2017-13830 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.13.1 is affected. The issue involves the "HFS" component. It allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13830 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.13.1. This issue resides within the HFS (Hierarchical File System) component which serves as the primary file system implementation for macOS environments. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption vulnerability that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of crafted applications that manipulate HFS file system structures, creating conditions where memory corruption occurs during normal file system operations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of "Stack-based Buffer Overflow" and demonstrates how file system implementations can become attack vectors for privilege escalation. The HFS component's failure to properly validate file system structures when processing specially crafted applications creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate memory contents in ways that can lead to arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious application is executed on an affected system, triggering the flawed HFS processing logic. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability can manifest in multiple ways including heap corruption, stack corruption, or pointer manipulation that can result in system instability or complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute code with elevated privileges, effectively bypassing normal user access controls and potentially gaining root-level access to the affected macOS system. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can also be used to cause denial of service conditions where system stability is compromised through memory corruption attacks. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where macOS systems may be running outdated versions that have not received the necessary security patches. The exploitation mechanism aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and demonstrates how file system vulnerabilities can be leveraged to achieve system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13830 extends far beyond individual system compromise, affecting organizations that rely on macOS infrastructure for business operations. Systems running vulnerable versions of macOS become potential entry points for advanced persistent threats, as attackers can use this vulnerability to establish persistent access to networks and escalate privileges to gain administrative control over affected machines. The vulnerability's ability to cause memory corruption also means that systems may experience unexpected crashes or reboots, leading to denial of service conditions that can disrupt business operations. Organizations with macOS systems that have not been updated to version 10.13.1 or later remain at significant risk, as this vulnerability can be exploited remotely or through social engineering attacks that trick users into executing malicious applications. The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise from attackers, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may not be security-aware. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how operating system file systems can contain flaws that enable privilege escalation attacks, and it underscores the importance of maintaining current operating system versions to protect against known vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13830 focus primarily on immediate system updates to macOS version 10.13.1 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the HFS memory corruption flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all macOS systems receive updates promptly, particularly given the vulnerability's potential for privilege escalation. Network administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted applications that could exploit this vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include monitoring system logs for unusual activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts and implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify malicious code execution. Security teams should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify systems running vulnerable macOS versions and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk assessment. The vulnerability's classification as a privilege escalation vector means that organizations should review their access control policies and ensure that users have the minimum necessary privileges to perform their duties, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. Regular security awareness training for users can help prevent social engineering attacks that might leverage this vulnerability by tricking users into executing malicious applications. Given the ATT&CK framework implications, organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect lateral movement attempts that might occur after successful exploitation of this vulnerability.