CVE-2017-13842 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 attackers to bypass intended memory-read restrictions via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical kernel-level memory protection flaw that affects macOS versions prior to 10.13.1, specifically impacting the kernel component of Apple's operating system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient memory-read restriction enforcement within the kernel, allowing malicious applications to circumvent intended security boundaries. This type of flaw falls under the category of kernel privilege escalation vulnerabilities, where an attacker-controlled application can manipulate kernel memory access controls to gain unauthorized read access to protected memory regions. The issue demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in the memory management subsystem's ability to enforce proper access controls, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass the operating system's core security mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves crafting a malicious application that can exploit kernel memory management functions to read memory locations that should normally be restricted to kernel space or privileged processes. This represents a classic case of insufficient kernel memory protection, where the kernel's memory management unit fails to properly validate memory access requests from user-space applications. The flaw enables attackers to read arbitrary kernel memory locations, potentially exposing sensitive data structures, cryptographic keys, or other confidential information that should remain protected within kernel space. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access control issues in kernel components, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves local privilege escalation through kernel exploits.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to extract sensitive kernel data that could be used to further compromise the system. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to access kernel memory regions containing security credentials, encryption keys, or system configuration data that would otherwise remain protected. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only a crafted application, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through standard application distribution channels. This type of kernel-level access could enable attackers to escalate privileges to root level, bypass additional security controls, and establish persistent access to the compromised system. The vulnerability affects the core memory protection mechanisms of macOS, undermining the fundamental security model that separates user-space processes from kernel-space operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to macOS 10.13.1 or later versions where Apple has implemented proper kernel memory access controls. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems and implementing additional monitoring for suspicious application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted applications that could potentially exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current operating system versions and implementing comprehensive security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review system logs for unusual memory access patterns and monitor for signs of kernel-level activity that could indicate exploitation. This vulnerability underscores the critical need for robust kernel security mechanisms and the importance of regular security updates to address known vulnerabilities in operating system components.