CVE-2017-2381 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.4 is affected. The issue involves the "sudo" component. It allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges by leveraging membership in the admin group on a network directory server.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2381 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.12.4. This security weakness specifically targets the sudo component, which serves as a critical access control mechanism for granting administrative privileges to authorized users. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of administrative group membership when systems are integrated with network directory servers, creating a significant security gap that can be exploited by remote authenticated attackers.
The technical flaw stems from how the sudo utility processes administrative group membership information when macOS systems are configured to authenticate against network directory services such as Active Directory or Open Directory. When a user belongs to an administrative group on a network directory server, the sudo component fails to properly validate or enforce the boundaries of this administrative access. This allows authenticated users who are members of admin groups on remote directory servers to escalate their privileges beyond what should be permitted, effectively bypassing normal access controls that should prevent unauthorized administrative access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables remote authenticated attackers to gain elevated privileges without requiring local system access or physical presence. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute commands with administrative privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where macOS systems frequently integrate with directory services for centralized user management, as it can be exploited from remote locations without requiring additional attack vectors.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with privilege escalation attacks that fall under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques. The issue specifically relates to T1068, which involves exploiting vulnerabilities in operating systems to gain elevated privileges, and T1548, which covers abuse of application permissions and access controls. Organizations using macOS in directory-integrated environments face significant risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited through network-based attacks without requiring local system compromise.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate deployment of Apple's security updates, specifically macOS 10.12.4 and subsequent versions that address this vulnerability. System administrators should also implement network segmentation controls and monitor directory service access patterns for suspicious activity. Additional protective measures include restricting network access to directory servers, implementing strict firewall rules, and conducting regular security audits of directory service configurations. Organizations should also consider implementing privileged access management solutions and establishing robust monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of keeping operating systems current with security patches and maintaining proper access control configurations in directory-integrated environments.