CVE-2017-2388 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.4 is affected. The issue involves the "IOFireWireFamily" component. It allows attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2388 represents a critical NULL pointer dereference flaw within the IOFireWireFamily component of Apple's macOS operating system. This security weakness affects macOS versions prior to 10.12.4, exposing millions of devices to potential denial of service attacks. The IOFireWireFamily is a core kernel extension responsible for managing FireWire hardware connections and related functionalities, making it a fundamental component in the system's hardware abstraction layer. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious applications that trigger the NULL pointer dereference condition, leading to system instability and potential complete system crashes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the IOFireWireFamily kernel extension. When a malicious application attempts to interact with FireWire hardware through improper or crafted data structures, the kernel component fails to properly handle NULL pointer references during memory allocation or hardware interaction processes. This flaw falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions in software implementations. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, meaning that successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise and denial of service conditions that require manual system reboot to resolve. The attack vector requires only local execution of a malicious application, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered without network connectivity or specialized attack infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2388 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it represents a fundamental weakness in macOS's kernel security architecture. Systems running affected versions of macOS become vulnerable to arbitrary code execution through carefully crafted FireWire connections, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to system resources. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as the exploitation can occur through legitimate system interfaces. Organizations and individual users face significant risk when operating affected systems, as the vulnerability can be exploited through seemingly benign applications or hardware connections, making detection and prevention challenging. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where macOS systems may be connected to untrusted FireWire devices or where users might inadvertently execute malicious software.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2388 primarily focus on immediate system updates and hardware security controls. Apple released macOS 10.12.4 and subsequent updates that address this vulnerability through improved input validation and NULL pointer checking within the IOFireWireFamily component. Security administrators should prioritize immediate deployment of these patches across all affected systems. Additional protective measures include disabling FireWire interfaces when not actively needed, implementing strict application whitelisting policies, and monitoring system logs for unusual FireWire activity. Network security teams should consider implementing firewalls and access controls that restrict FireWire connections from untrusted networks or devices. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of kernel-level security in operating system design, as demonstrated by the ATT&CK framework's emphasis on kernel-mode exploits and privilege escalation techniques. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other kernel extensions and ensure comprehensive patch management processes are in place to maintain system integrity against evolving threats.