CVE-2017-2402 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.4 is affected. The issue involves mishandling of profile uninstall actions in the "MCX Client" component when a profile has multiple payloads. It allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions by leveraging Active Directory certificate trust that should not have remained.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2402 resides within Apple's macOS operating system, specifically affecting versions prior to 10.12.4. This security flaw manifests in the MCX Client component which is responsible for managing configuration profiles on macOS systems. The issue becomes particularly critical when configuration profiles contain multiple payloads, creating a scenario where the system fails to properly handle profile uninstallation processes. The MCX Client component, which operates under the System Management Framework, is designed to enforce configuration policies and manage user settings through profile-based configurations. When multiple payloads exist within a single profile, the client's handling of uninstall operations becomes inconsistent, leading to potential security implications that extend beyond the immediate configuration management scope.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper validation and processing of profile uninstallation requests within the MCX Client. When a configuration profile containing multiple payloads is removed from a system, the client fails to properly clear all associated configuration elements and access restrictions. This malfunction creates a persistent state where certain Active Directory certificate trust relationships remain active even after the profile should have been completely removed. The flaw essentially allows attackers to maintain access to resources and services that should have been restricted upon profile removal, creating a lingering security boundary violation. This issue falls under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and specifically relates to inadequate privilege management during system configuration changes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly beyond simple access control bypasses, as it can enable remote attackers to maintain unauthorized access to network resources that were previously protected by Active Directory certificate trust mechanisms. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially gain continued access to corporate networks, file servers, or other resources that depend on proper certificate trust relationships established through configuration profiles. The persistent nature of the flaw means that even after administrators believe they have removed problematic configurations, the system continues to honor certain trust relationships that should have been terminated. This creates a false sense of security for system administrators and can lead to extended compromise windows where unauthorized access remains undetected.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, particularly under the techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence. The flaw enables attackers to maintain access through compromised certificate trust relationships, which aligns with tactics involving maintaining access to target systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to macOS 10.12.4 or later versions, which contain the necessary patches to address the MCX Client profile handling behavior. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough audits of configuration profiles to identify any that may contain multiple payloads and ensure proper removal procedures are followed. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual certificate trust relationship patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's effects can persist even after initial compromise attempts have been made.