CVE-2017-7032 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.6 is affected. The issue involves the "kext tools" component. It allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7032 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.12.6. This issue specifically targets the kext tools component which serves as a fundamental element in macOS kernel extension management and development. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the kernel extension tools that handle user-supplied input during the processing of kernel extensions. The flaw exists in the way these tools manage memory operations when parsing crafted applications, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to gain elevated privileges. According to CWE-121, this vulnerability manifests as a buffer overflow condition that allows attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. The attack vector requires a malicious application to be executed by an unsuspecting user, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability given the trusted execution environment typically associated with macOS applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a memory corruption flaw within the kernel extension processing pipeline where the kext tools component fails to properly validate input parameters from kernel extension files. When a crafted application containing malicious kernel extension data is executed, the vulnerable kext tools component processes this data without adequate bounds checking, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory structures. This type of vulnerability falls under ATT&CK technique T1059 where adversaries execute malicious code through legitimate system tools. The memory corruption occurs during the kernel extension loading process where the system attempts to parse and validate extension metadata, but the validation routines are insufficient to prevent malicious inputs from corrupting memory regions. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can also enable denial of service conditions that may crash the system or render it unstable.
The operational implications of CVE-2017-7032 are severe given that macOS systems running versions before 10.12.6 are susceptible to attacks that could compromise the entire system security posture. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains the ability to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, effectively bypassing all user-level security controls and access restrictions. This privilege escalation capability allows for complete system compromise including persistent backdoor installation, data exfiltration, and system monitoring without detection. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only a user to execute a malicious application, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter phishing emails or download applications from untrusted sources. The memory corruption nature of the flaw means that even successful exploitation may result in system instability or crashes, potentially leading to denial of service attacks against critical systems. Organizations running affected macOS versions face significant risk of data breaches and system compromise, with the vulnerability potentially affecting enterprise environments where macOS devices are used for sensitive operations. The remediation of this vulnerability requires immediate deployment of macOS 10.12.6 updates or later versions, as Apple addressed the memory validation issues in these releases through enhanced input sanitization and bounds checking mechanisms within the kext tools component.