CVE-2017-2437 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.4 is affected. The issue involves the "IOFireWireAVC" component. It allows local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2437 resides within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.12.4, specifically targeting the IOKit framework component known as IOKitFireWireAVC. This component handles FireWire audio and video control protocols, serving as a bridge between hardware devices and the operating system's kernel. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption vulnerability that can be exploited by local attackers with existing system access, potentially leading to privilege escalation or system instability. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service, as it provides attackers with opportunities to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, effectively compromising the system's security model.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within the IOKitFireWireAVC driver, which processes incoming FireWire control commands from connected devices. When processing malformed or specially crafted FireWire packets, the driver fails to properly validate input data, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite critical kernel memory structures. This memory corruption vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of "Stack-based Buffer Overflow" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation." The flaw exists because the driver does not adequately sanitize or validate the length and content of incoming FireWire control messages before processing them, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate kernel memory layout through carefully constructed input data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to macOS systems as it requires no special privileges to exploit, only local access to the system. Attackers can leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges from standard user level to root access, effectively bypassing the operating system's security boundaries. The memory corruption aspect also introduces potential for system crashes or reboots, creating denial of service scenarios that could be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where system uptime is critical. Organizations running affected macOS versions face increased risk of unauthorized access, data compromise, and potential lateral movement within networks where compromised systems could serve as footholds for broader attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2437 primarily focus on immediate patch management and system hardening measures. Apple's release of macOS 10.12.4 addressed the vulnerability through improved input validation and memory handling within the IOKitFireWireAVC component, making this update the primary recommended solution. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive the security update promptly. Additional protective measures include disabling unused FireWire ports, implementing strict access controls for FireWire devices, and monitoring for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and endpoint detection systems should be configured to monitor for potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on kernel-level activities that might indicate privilege escalation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege, limiting local user access to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.