CVE-2017-2408 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.4 is affected. The issue involves the "IOATAFamily" 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 • 10/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2408 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.12.4. This issue resides within the IOATAFamily kernel extension which manages ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) storage interfaces and is responsible for handling various storage device operations. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within this component, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation that could result in privilege escalation or system instability.
The technical flaw manifests through memory corruption vulnerabilities within the IOATAFamily driver that processes data from ATA storage devices. When a malicious application attempts to interact with ATA storage interfaces through improper parameter handling or malformed data structures, the kernel component fails to properly validate input parameters, leading to buffer overflows or memory corruption issues. This memory corruption can be leveraged by attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing standard user-mode security boundaries. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes "Stack-based Buffer Overflow" and CWE-787, which covers "Out-of-bounds Write" conditions that can lead to privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to privileged system functions without requiring physical access or elevated user privileges. An attacker could craft a malicious application that when executed on an affected system could trigger the memory corruption, leading to code execution in kernel space. This privilege escalation capability enables attackers to install persistent backdoors, modify system files, disable security features, or establish covert communication channels. The vulnerability also presents a denial of service risk where carefully crafted inputs could cause system crashes or reboots, potentially disrupting critical business operations.
Security professionals should immediately implement mitigation strategies including prompt deployment of macOS updates to version 10.12.4 or later, which contain patches addressing the memory handling issues in IOATAFamily. System administrators should also monitor for suspicious application execution patterns and implement application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Local Privilege Escalation" through kernel exploits, and T1059, covering "Command and Scripting Interpreter" for potential malicious code execution. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments focusing on kernel-level vulnerabilities and maintain comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.