CVE-2017-13878 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.13.2 is affected. The issue involves the "Intel Graphics Driver" component. It allows local users to bypass intended memory-read restrictions or cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read and system crash).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13878 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's Intel Graphics Driver component affecting macOS versions prior to 10.13.2. This issue manifests as a memory safety vulnerability that undermines the integrity of the graphics subsystem and exposes the operating system to potential exploitation. The flaw specifically targets the graphics driver's handling of memory operations, creating pathways for unauthorized access to protected memory regions that should remain restricted to system-level processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the Intel Graphics Driver's memory management functions. When processing graphics-related operations, the driver fails to properly validate memory access boundaries, allowing malicious code to perform out-of-bounds reads that can access memory locations outside the intended allocation ranges. This memory corruption vulnerability operates at the kernel level where graphics processing occurs, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by local users without requiring elevated privileges. The flaw aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation in system-level components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. Local users can leverage the out-of-bounds read capability to bypass memory-read restrictions that are fundamental to macOS security architecture, potentially accessing sensitive data or system information that should remain protected. The system crash conditions that accompany this vulnerability can be exploited to create persistent denial of service scenarios, disrupting normal system operations and potentially providing attackers with opportunities to escalate privileges or gain deeper system access. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of graphics driver security in modern operating systems where GPU processing is increasingly integrated into core system functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13878 primarily focus on immediate system updates and patch management to upgrade to macOS 10.13.2 or later versions where Apple has implemented proper bounds checking and memory validation mechanisms. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems and implement monitoring for unusual graphics driver behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," indicates that attackers could potentially use this flaw as a stepping stone for broader system compromise. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as kernel extension restrictions and memory protection mechanisms to reduce the attack surface and limit potential exploitation of similar memory safety vulnerabilities in graphics drivers and other system components.