CVE-2017-2509 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.5 is affected. The issue involves the "Kernel" component. It allows attackers to bypass intended memory-read restrictions via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2025
This vulnerability resides within the kernel component of macOS versions prior to 10.12.5, representing a critical memory protection flaw that fundamentally undermines the operating system's security architecture. The issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the kernel's memory management subsystem, allowing malicious applications to craft specific payloads that can bypass legitimate memory read restrictions. This weakness enables attackers to access memory regions that should normally be protected from unauthorized access, effectively creating a pathway for privilege escalation and data exfiltration. The vulnerability operates at the core level of the operating system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges initially. The kernel component serves as the foundation for all system operations and memory management, meaning that any compromise of its integrity directly impacts the entire security posture of the affected macOS installations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a malicious application that can manipulate kernel memory access controls through carefully constructed memory operations and system calls. Attackers can leverage this flaw to read memory locations that contain sensitive information such as kernel data structures, encryption keys, or other protected system resources. The vulnerability essentially creates a bypass mechanism that allows user-mode applications to perform memory reads that should be restricted to kernel mode only. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls within software systems. The attack vector specifically demonstrates a privilege escalation vulnerability where an unprivileged user can gain unauthorized access to kernel memory spaces, representing a significant deviation from the expected security boundaries established by the operating system's memory management policies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to potentially gain complete control over affected systems. Once exploited, adversaries can access kernel memory regions containing critical system data, potentially leading to full system compromise and persistent backdoor access. The vulnerability affects all macOS versions before 10.12.5, creating a substantial attack surface across numerous system deployments. Organizations running affected versions face significant risk of data breaches, system infiltration, and potential lateral movement within their networks. The exploitability of this vulnerability means that attackers do not need to rely on additional attack vectors or social engineering techniques, as the flaw itself provides the necessary means for unauthorized memory access. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors who can leverage it for both targeted attacks against specific systems and broader exploitation campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate system updates and patch management implementation. Apple released macOS 10.12.5 to address this specific kernel memory protection flaw, and system administrators should prioritize deployment of this update across all affected devices. The patch resolves the underlying memory access control mechanisms within the kernel, restoring proper boundary enforcement between user and kernel memory spaces. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring and detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on anomalous memory access patterns and unusual application behavior. Security teams should consider implementing application whitelisting policies and enhanced system integrity monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date system security patches and demonstrates how kernel-level flaws can have cascading effects on overall system security. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and defense evasion methods, as attackers can use the memory access bypass to avoid detection while maintaining persistent access to target systems.