CVE-2017-6987 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. It allows attackers to bypass intended memory-read restrictions via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6987 represents a critical kernel-level memory protection flaw affecting multiple Apple operating systems including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This security weakness resides within the kernel component of Apple's operating systems, specifically targeting memory read restrictions that are fundamental to system security and isolation mechanisms. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to craft specially designed applications that can bypass intended memory access controls, effectively undermining the core security model that separates user applications from critical system resources.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from improper validation of memory access permissions within the kernel's memory management subsystem. When a crafted application attempts to access memory regions that should be restricted, the kernel fails to properly enforce access controls, enabling unauthorized read operations that could expose sensitive system data, kernel memory contents, or other protected resources. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation" and specifically relates to memory safety issues in kernel space operations. The flaw represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that could potentially allow attackers to extract confidential information or manipulate system behavior through unauthorized memory access.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6987 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to bypass fundamental security boundaries that protect system integrity. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to kernel memory, potentially exposing sensitive data structures, cryptographic keys, or other critical system information. This access could enable further exploitation techniques including privilege escalation to root or system-level access, making it particularly dangerous for mobile and desktop environments where users may not be security-aware. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Apple products and versions, including iOS 10.3.1 and earlier, macOS 10.12.4 and earlier, tvOS 10.2.0 and earlier, and watchOS 3.2.1 and earlier, creating a substantial attack surface across Apple's ecosystem. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1055 which covers privilege escalation and technique T1005 which covers data from local system.
Apple addressed this vulnerability through security updates that strengthened kernel memory access controls and improved validation of memory read operations. The fixes involved modifications to the kernel's memory management subsystem to properly enforce access restrictions and prevent unauthorized memory reads from user-space applications. Organizations should immediately deploy the relevant security patches for iOS 10.3.2, macOS 10.12.5, tvOS 10.2.1, and watchOS 3.2.2 to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of kernel-level security controls and the potential consequences when memory protection mechanisms fail, emphasizing the need for continuous security auditing of core system components and proper input validation in all security-critical code areas.