CVE-2017-7150 in OS X
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.13 Supplemental Update is affected. The issue involves the "Security" component. It allows attackers to bypass the keychain access prompt, and consequently extract passwords, via a synthetic click.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7150 represents a significant security flaw in Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to the 10.13 Supplemental Update. This weakness resides within the Security component of the operating system and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation details can create substantial access control bypass opportunities. The vulnerability specifically targets the keychain access prompt mechanism that users typically encounter when applications attempt to access stored credentials, creating a critical gap in the authentication flow that attackers can exploit through sophisticated social engineering techniques.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the ability to perform what is known as a synthetic click attack, which allows malicious actors to programmatically simulate user interactions with the graphical interface. This technique essentially enables attackers to bypass the normal user consent flow that should occur when applications request access to keychain items containing sensitive information such as passwords, certificates, and other authentication credentials. The synthetic click mechanism exploits a fundamental flaw in how macOS handles user interaction events and the validation of access requests, creating a scenario where automated attacks can effectively impersonate legitimate user actions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk for macOS users who store passwords, authentication tokens, and other sensitive credentials within their keychain. Attackers can leverage this flaw to silently extract stored passwords without user awareness, potentially gaining access to email accounts, online banking credentials, corporate network access, and other sensitive systems. The implications extend beyond individual users to enterprise environments where keychain access is frequently used for automated processes, system administration tasks, and integration with various corporate services. The vulnerability essentially undermines the core security principle of user consent and authorization, allowing unauthorized access to credential repositories that should remain protected by explicit user approval.
The attack vector for CVE-2017-7150 aligns with techniques documented in the ATT&CK framework under the T1556.001 sub-technique for credential access through legitimate credentials, and specifically relates to the concept of bypassing user interface prompts that are designed to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system components. This vulnerability demonstrates how attackers can leverage the trust model inherent in legitimate user interface interactions to circumvent security controls, creating a sophisticated attack pattern that requires careful consideration in security architecture design. The flaw essentially creates a pathway for attackers to exploit the very mechanisms that are supposed to protect users from unauthorized credential access.
Organizations and individuals should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to macOS 10.13 Supplemental Update or later versions, which contain the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of keychain usage patterns and implement monitoring for suspicious access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining current security patches and the critical need for layered security approaches that do not rely solely on user interface controls for access protection. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring for keychain access events and establishing protocols for rapid response to potential credential theft incidents. This vulnerability exemplifies why security controls must be designed with the assumption that user interface elements may be compromised, requiring robust backend validation mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.