CVE-2017-7154 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.2 is affected. macOS before 10.13.2 is affected. tvOS before 11.2 is affected. The issue involves the "Kernel" component. It allows local users to bypass intended memory-read restrictions or cause a denial of service (system crash).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7154 represents a critical kernel-level security flaw affecting multiple Apple operating systems including iOS versions prior to 11.2, macOS versions before 10.13.2, and tvOS versions before 11.2. This issue resides within the kernel component of Apple's operating systems, which serves as the core foundation responsible for system resource management and security enforcement. The kernel operates with the highest privilege level and controls access to system memory, making any vulnerability in this component particularly dangerous as it can potentially compromise the entire system integrity and security model.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows local attackers to bypass intended memory-read restrictions that are fundamental to operating system security. This type of flaw typically involves improper validation of memory access permissions or flawed privilege checks within kernel code. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability would likely map to CWE-284, which deals with improper access control, or CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability enables attackers who already have local access to the system to escalate their privileges and read memory that should be restricted, effectively breaking the memory protection mechanisms that separate user processes from kernel space.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7154 extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can also result in denial of service conditions that may cause system crashes. This dual nature makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for threat actors who may use it to either gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or to disrupt system operations. The vulnerability demonstrates a breakdown in the kernel's memory management controls, potentially allowing malicious local processes to access memory regions that should be protected from unauthorized access. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as privilege escalation and defense evasion, as it enables attackers to bypass security controls that normally prevent unauthorized memory access.
System administrators and security professionals should prioritize patching affected systems immediately, as this vulnerability represents a significant risk to both confidentiality and availability of affected devices. The local nature of the attack means that users must be cautious about running untrusted code or applications on systems with this vulnerability, as any malicious software could exploit the flaw to gain elevated privileges and access restricted system resources. The patching process should include updating to the specified minimum versions of iOS, macOS, and tvOS where Apple has addressed this kernel-level memory protection issue through code modifications that properly enforce memory access controls and privilege boundaries.