CVE-2017-2409 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.4 is affected. The issue involves the "Menus" component. It allows attackers to obtain sensitive information or cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read and application crash) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2409 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.12.4. This issue resides within the Menus component of the system, which serves as a fundamental interface element responsible for managing application menus and user interactions. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the menu processing subsystem, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted applications. The Menus component is integral to macOS functionality as it handles user interface interactions, menu bar operations, and application communication with the system's graphical environment, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise system integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability manifests through out-of-bounds read conditions and application crashes that occur when malicious applications attempt to manipulate menu structures beyond their intended boundaries. Attackers can craft specially designed applications that trigger memory access violations within the Menus component, leading to information disclosure and system instability. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software systems, and represents a classic example of memory safety issues that can result in both information leakage and denial of service scenarios. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to read memory locations that should remain protected, potentially exposing sensitive data such as kernel memory contents, application state information, or other confidential system resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2409 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks that could lead to privilege escalation or information gathering. When applications crash due to these out-of-bounds reads, the system may provide attackers with insights into memory layouts and system structures, which can be leveraged in subsequent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves executing malicious code through application interfaces, and can be categorized under T1068, which involves exploiting local privileges through application flaws. System administrators and security professionals must recognize that this vulnerability could be exploited in the context of social engineering campaigns where users might unknowingly install malicious applications that trigger these menu processing flaws.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to macOS 10.12.4 or later versions, which contain patches addressing the out-of-bounds read conditions in the Menus component. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely through malicious applications. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual application behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on menu-related system calls and memory access anomalies. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and memory safety practices in system components, as highlighted by the CWE-125 classification and the broader ATT&CK framework's emphasis on application exploitation techniques. Additionally, users should exercise caution when installing applications from untrusted sources, as the vulnerability can be triggered through legitimate-looking applications that contain malicious menu manipulation code designed to exploit this specific flaw.