CVE-2017-2501 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3.2 is affected. macOS before 10.12.5 is affected. tvOS before 10.2.1 is affected. watchOS before 3.2.2 is affected. The issue involves the "Kernel" component. A race condition allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2025
This vulnerability resides within the kernel component of Apple's operating systems, representing a critical race condition flaw that affects multiple platforms including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. The race condition occurs when multiple threads or processes attempt to access shared resources simultaneously, creating a window where the system's state becomes inconsistent and exploitable. This particular weakness allows malicious applications to manipulate the kernel's execution flow and gain elevated privileges, effectively bypassing the normal security boundaries that separate user applications from system-level processes. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in how the kernel manages concurrent access to critical resources, creating opportunities for attackers to escalate their privileges without requiring physical access or additional exploitation techniques.
The technical exploitation of this race condition enables attackers to execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, which represents the highest privilege level in the operating system architecture. This privilege escalation capability allows malicious actors to perform actions that would normally be restricted to the system itself, including modifying system files, accessing sensitive data, and potentially installing persistent backdoors. The flaw specifically manifests when a crafted application attempts to manipulate kernel objects or memory regions in a way that exploits timing dependencies between different system calls or operations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain root-level access to devices, undermining the core security model of Apple's operating systems and compromising the integrity of the entire platform.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect large-scale deployments and enterprise environments where Apple devices are extensively used. Organizations relying on Apple's ecosystem for critical operations face significant risk as attackers could exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to corporate networks, steal sensitive information, or disrupt business operations. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Apple platforms including mobile devices, desktop computers, and set-top boxes creates a wide attack surface that security teams must address through comprehensive patch management strategies. This race condition represents a particularly dangerous class of vulnerability because it operates at the kernel level where the system's fundamental security mechanisms are implemented, making detection and prevention more challenging than typical application-level exploits.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of Apple's security patches, specifically iOS 10.3.2, macOS 10.12.5, tvOS 10.2.1, and watchOS 3.2.2 updates. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish baseline security configurations that minimize the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which describes race conditions in concurrent programming, and represents a classic example of privilege escalation through kernel-level flaws. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting, network segmentation, and regular security assessments to reduce the risk of exploitation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the kernel as a target for gaining elevated system privileges. Regular security awareness training for users and administrators is essential to recognize potential indicators of compromise and maintain overall security posture against similar vulnerabilities that may exist in the operating system's kernel components.