CVE-2017-2358 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.3 is affected. The issue involves the "Graphics Drivers" 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 • 11/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2358 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.12.3. This weakness resides within the Graphics Drivers component, which serves as a fundamental interface between the operating system and graphics hardware. The vulnerability stems from improper memory handling mechanisms within the graphics driver subsystem, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized system access.
The technical flaw manifests through memory corruption issues that occur when processing specially crafted applications designed to exploit the graphics driver's memory management functions. This memory corruption vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, effectively bypassing standard security boundaries that normally protect the operating system from unauthorized modifications. The flaw operates at a low system level where graphics processing commands are interpreted and executed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to establish persistent footholds within the target system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations and individual users alike. Attackers could potentially use this flaw to install malicious software, modify system files, or establish backdoors that persist across system reboots. The memory corruption aspect also introduces the possibility of denial of service attacks that could crash the graphics subsystem or entire operating system, disrupting normal business operations and potentially leading to data loss. The privilege escalation capability means that a successful exploitation could provide attackers with administrative access to affected systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions, and represents a classic example of memory safety issues that have plagued graphics processing components across various platforms. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, as attackers could leverage the graphics driver exploit to maintain long-term access to compromised systems. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping graphics drivers and operating system components updated, as the flaw existed in multiple versions of macOS and could be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected systems to macOS 10.12.3 or later versions where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management policies specifically targeting graphics driver components and conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify systems running outdated versions. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious graphics processing activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include verification that all graphics drivers are properly updated and that system integrity checks confirm the absence of unauthorized modifications to the graphics subsystem.