CVE-2017-7045 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 bypass intended memory-read restrictions via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7045 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 the foundational interface between the operating system and graphics hardware. The vulnerability stems from insufficient memory access controls that permit malicious applications to circumvent the intended security boundaries governing memory read operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially designed applications that manipulate the graphics driver's memory management mechanisms to access restricted memory regions that should otherwise be protected from unauthorized read access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control conditions in software systems. The flaw operates at the kernel level within the graphics driver subsystem where memory protection mechanisms fail to properly enforce access restrictions. This allows a malicious application to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to memory areas that contain sensitive data or system resources. The vulnerability specifically affects the memory management unit within the Intel Graphics Driver where the driver fails to properly validate memory access requests from user-space applications. This creates a pathway for attackers to bypass the standard memory protection mechanisms that typically prevent user applications from reading kernel memory or other protected system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks including information disclosure, system compromise, and data exfiltration. An attacker with a crafted application could access sensitive system memory containing cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential information stored in protected memory regions. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only the execution of a malicious application, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through various attack vectors including phishing campaigns, malicious websites, or compromised software installations. The affected macOS versions through 10.12.5 represent a significant attack surface since these versions were widely deployed in enterprise and consumer environments, increasing the potential for widespread exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7045 primarily focus on immediate system updates to macOS 10.12.6 or later versions where Apple has implemented proper memory access controls within the Intel Graphics Driver. System administrators should prioritize patch management to ensure all affected systems receive the necessary security updates. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted applications, monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns, and maintaining comprehensive system logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure memory management in graphics drivers and highlights the need for proper access control mechanisms at all levels of system architecture. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical security implications that can arise from driver-level flaws and the necessity of robust memory protection mechanisms in modern operating systems.