CVE-2017-13848 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.13.2 is affected. The issue involves the "IOKit" component. It allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13848 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.13.2. This security weakness resides within the IOKit framework, which serves as the foundational kernel extension infrastructure for macOS device drivers and hardware management. The IOKit component acts as a bridge between user-space applications and kernel-space drivers, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to elevate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the IOKit subsystem that fails to properly verify the authenticity and integrity of kernel extension requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a malicious application that crafts specially formatted requests to the IOKit framework. When macOS processes these malformed requests, the insufficient validation allows the attacker's code to execute within the kernel context with elevated privileges typically reserved for system-level processes. This privilege escalation enables attackers to bypass standard security boundaries and gain root access to the affected system. The flaw operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to install persistent backdoors, modify system files, or extract sensitive information without detection. The attack vector requires only a user to launch the malicious application, making it particularly concerning as it can be delivered through social engineering campaigns or compromised software installations.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13848 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of macOS. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively neutralizing all user-space security controls including sandboxing, code signing enforcement, and privilege separation mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," and represents a classic example of how kernel-level flaws can be exploited to undermine the entire operating system security architecture. The attack can be classified under the MITRE ATT&CK framework as privilege escalation technique, specifically leveraging kernel exploits to gain system-level access. Organizations running affected macOS versions face significant risk of persistent compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate system updates to macOS 10.13.2 or later versions where Apple has implemented proper input validation and access control measures within the IOKit framework. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected endpoints and monitor for signs of exploitation attempts in their network security logs. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, monitoring for unusual kernel activity, and maintaining regular security assessments of macOS systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel-level security controls and demonstrates how flaws in foundational system components can have cascading effects on overall system security. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify anomalous kernel behavior indicative of IOKit-based exploits. Regular vulnerability assessments and security awareness training for users can help prevent initial compromise through social engineering attacks that might deliver malicious applications designed to exploit this vulnerability.