CVE-2017-7014 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.6 is affected. The issue involves the "Intel Graphics Driver" component. It allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7014 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.12.6. This issue specifically targets the Intel Graphics Driver component, which serves as a fundamental interface between the operating system and graphics hardware. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption vulnerability that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain elevated privileges or disrupt system operations. The vulnerability exists within the graphics driver's handling of memory allocation and management processes, creating potential entry points for unauthorized code execution. Security researchers identified this issue during routine analysis of kernel-level components where improper bounds checking and memory validation occurred during graphics processing operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a crafted application attempts to manipulate graphics driver functions through malformed memory operations. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing standard security boundaries that typically protect the operating system from user-space applications. The memory corruption aspect of the vulnerability allows for both privilege escalation and potential denial of service conditions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might inadvertently run malicious software. The Intel Graphics Driver component processes graphics commands from applications and translates them into hardware-level operations, creating a potential attack surface where malformed input can cause memory corruption. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7014 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass broader system stability concerns and potential data compromise. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability allows attackers to execute malicious code with the highest system privileges, potentially enabling complete system compromise. The affected macOS versions, particularly those before 10.12.6, were widely deployed in enterprise and consumer environments, amplifying the potential attack surface. Organizations running these vulnerable systems faced increased risk of persistent threats, as the privilege escalation capability could enable attackers to maintain long-term access to compromised systems. The denial of service component of the vulnerability means that even successful exploitation without privilege escalation could render systems unstable or unusable, creating operational disruptions that could affect business continuity. This vulnerability falls under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, and T1499, covering network denial of service attacks that can be initiated through system-level exploits.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7014 primarily focus on immediate system updates and operational security measures. Apple released macOS 10.12.6 as a direct response to this vulnerability, implementing memory validation checks and bounds checking improvements within the Intel Graphics Driver component. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest macOS versions, as this represents the most effective defense against exploitation attempts. System administrators should also implement application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized applications from executing graphics-intensive operations that might trigger the vulnerability. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual graphics driver activity or memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary graphics features, implementing strict user access controls, and maintaining regular security assessments of systems running vulnerable macOS versions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current operating system patches and highlights the critical nature of graphics driver security in modern computing environments where hardware acceleration is increasingly utilized.