CVE-2017-13843 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 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 • 09/05/2024
This vulnerability resides within the kernel component of macOS versions prior to 10.13.1, representing a critical security flaw that could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges or cause system-wide denial of service conditions. The kernel serves as the core operating system component responsible for managing system resources and providing essential services to applications, making any vulnerability within this realm particularly dangerous as it can compromise the entire system integrity. The flaw manifests through a memory corruption issue that occurs when processing crafted applications, allowing malicious actors to exploit the system's memory management mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common kernel-level flaws that fall under the CWE-119 category of "Improper Access to Memory" and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation." Attackers can craft malicious applications that trigger memory corruption within the kernel, potentially leading to privilege escalation from user-level processes to kernel-level execution. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because kernel exploits can bypass most traditional security controls and provide attackers with unrestricted access to system resources, files, and network interfaces. The memory corruption aspect suggests that the kernel's memory management routines fail to properly validate input from applications, allowing malformed data to corrupt kernel memory structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it could enable complete system compromise and persistent access. When attackers successfully exploit this flaw, they gain the ability to execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges, effectively bypassing all user-level security measures. This could result in data exfiltration, system monitoring, installation of backdoors, or complete system takeover. The denial of service component means that even if exploitation fails to achieve privilege escalation, attackers can still cause system instability and prevent legitimate users from accessing their systems. Organizations running affected macOS versions face significant risk as this vulnerability could be exploited by both sophisticated nation-state actors and less sophisticated threat groups.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to macOS 10.13.1 or later versions where Apple has patched the kernel memory corruption issue. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Additionally, organizations should monitor for indicators of compromise related to kernel-level exploits and implement network monitoring to detect suspicious application execution patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping operating system components updated, as kernel-level flaws often require immediate remediation. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted applications, though this approach has limitations given that the vulnerability can be triggered by crafted applications. The remediation process should include thorough system verification after patch application to ensure that the vulnerability has been properly addressed and that no residual issues remain.