CVE-2017-2357 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.3 is affected. The issue involves the "IOAudioFamily" component. It allows attackers to obtain sensitive kernel memory-layout information via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2357 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.12.3. This issue resides within the IOAudioFamily kernel extension which manages audio hardware interfaces and system audio functionality. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management practices within the audio subsystem that allows malicious applications to exploit kernel memory access patterns. The flaw specifically enables attackers to extract sensitive kernel memory layout information through carefully crafted applications that leverage improper memory handling within the audio driver framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-200, which describes "Information Exposure" and specifically relates to improper information disclosure within kernel space components. Attackers can construct malicious applications that trigger memory access violations or improper memory mapping within the IOAudioFamily driver, resulting in the leakage of kernel memory addresses and layout information. This information disclosure occurs through kernel memory access patterns that are not properly sanitized or restricted, allowing unauthorized memory inspection that could reveal critical system information such as kernel base addresses, memory layout structures, and potential offsets for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level where memory protection mechanisms should prevent such information leakage.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2357 extends beyond simple information disclosure as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks within the macOS ecosystem. While the immediate effect is the exposure of kernel memory layouts, this information can be leveraged by threat actors to perform advanced exploitation techniques including kernel address space layout randomization (ASLR) bypass attacks. The leaked memory information provides attackers with critical data needed to craft more effective exploits against other vulnerabilities present in the system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," as the memory disclosure can enable attackers to bypass security mechanisms that rely on memory layout randomization. The vulnerability also contributes to broader attack surface expansion by providing attackers with insights into kernel memory structures that could be used to identify potential weaknesses in other kernel components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2357 primarily focus on system updates and kernel security hardening measures. The most effective immediate solution is updating to macOS 10.12.3 or later versions where Apple has implemented proper memory validation and access controls within the IOAudioFamily component. System administrators should ensure all macOS systems are patched promptly to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing kernel memory protection mechanisms and monitoring for suspicious kernel memory access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper kernel memory management and input validation within system drivers, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing of kernel extensions and the implementation of memory safety checks to prevent unauthorized memory access patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of potentially malicious applications that could exploit this vulnerability.