CVE-2017-6979 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 "IOSurface" 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 • 09/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6979 represents a critical race condition flaw within Apple's IOSurface component that affects multiple operating systems including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This race condition exists in the kernel-level memory management system that handles graphics and surface operations, creating a window of opportunity for malicious actors to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with elevated system permissions. The vulnerability stems from improper synchronization mechanisms within the IOSurface subsystem that manages shared memory objects between user-space applications and kernel-space processes, allowing for timing-based exploitation scenarios where attackers can manipulate concurrent access patterns to gain unauthorized system access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages a specific race condition scenario within the IOSurface memory management system where multiple threads or processes attempt to access shared memory objects simultaneously without proper locking mechanisms. This flaw enables attackers to manipulate the memory layout and timing of operations to achieve privilege escalation from user-level applications to kernel-level execution context. The race condition occurs during the handling of IOSurface objects when the system fails to properly validate or synchronize access to shared memory regions, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code into privileged execution contexts. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-362, which specifically addresses race conditions in concurrent programming environments where improper synchronization leads to security vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6979 extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with a pathway to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing standard security boundaries and access controls. This capability allows malicious applications to perform actions such as reading or modifying system files, installing persistent backdoors, accessing encrypted data, and potentially compromising the entire device. The vulnerability affects all versions of Apple's operating systems prior to the mentioned patches, creating widespread exposure across millions of devices including iPhones, iPads, Mac computers, Apple TV devices, and Apple Watch units. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting legitimate credentials and system access to gain elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6979 require immediate system updates to the patched versions of Apple's operating systems, specifically iOS 10.3.2, macOS 10.12.5, tvOS 10.2.1, and watchOS 3.2.2. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected devices receive the security updates promptly, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without user interaction. Additionally, security teams should monitor for suspicious application behavior and implement network-based detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper concurrent programming practices and the need for robust synchronization mechanisms in kernel-level code, as documented in various security standards and best practices for secure software development. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on race condition vulnerabilities should be implemented to prevent similar issues in future software releases.