CVE-2017-7159 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.13.2 is affected. The issue involves the "IOAcceleratorFamily" component. It allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7159 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.13.2. This issue resides within the IOAcceleratorFamily component, which serves as a fundamental part of macOS's graphics and acceleration subsystem. The IOAcceleratorFamily is responsible for managing hardware acceleration capabilities and GPU processing tasks, making it a crucial element in the system's performance infrastructure. When compromised, this component can provide attackers with elevated privileges that bypass normal security boundaries. The vulnerability manifests through improper input validation within the kernel-level driver, creating a path for malicious code execution that operates at the highest privilege levels of the operating system. This flaw falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite memory regions and potentially execute arbitrary code. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as the vulnerability can also result in system instability and denial of service conditions when exploited. Attackers can craft malicious applications that leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to system resources and execute commands with kernel-level privileges. The attack vector requires the victim to install and run a specially crafted application, making social engineering and trust-based exploitation methods particularly effective. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting legitimate credentials or privileges to gain access to systems. The IOAcceleratorFamily component's role in hardware acceleration makes it an attractive target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to systems. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability means that successful exploitation can lead to system crashes, data corruption, or complete system compromise. The affected macOS versions include all releases prior to 10.13.2, representing a significant portion of Apple's user base that would be vulnerable to this attack. Security researchers identified that the flaw stems from inadequate validation of user-supplied data within kernel memory structures, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute malicious payloads. The privilege escalation potential makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to bypass standard user permissions and access protected system resources. The vulnerability's impact on system stability means that even attempted exploitation could result in denial of service conditions, disrupting normal system operations. Organizations running affected macOS versions should prioritize patching to prevent potential exploitation by malicious actors. The IOAcceleratorFamily's integration with graphics processing makes it a critical component that requires robust security controls to prevent unauthorized access to kernel memory spaces. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of kernel-level security testing and the need for comprehensive input validation across all system components. The exploitation of this flaw requires minimal user interaction beyond application installation, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams managing macOS environments. Apple's subsequent release of macOS 10.13.2 included patches that addressed the memory corruption issues within the IOAcceleratorFamily component. The vulnerability's classification as a kernel-level privilege escalation issue places it in the highest severity category, as it provides attackers with the ability to execute code with the highest system privileges. The flaw's presence in the graphics acceleration subsystem highlights the complexity of modern operating systems and the potential security implications of hardware integration. Security professionals should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, particularly in environments where untrusted applications might be executed. The vulnerability's impact on system stability and security makes it a critical concern for organizations that rely on macOS for business operations. Proper patch management and security monitoring are essential to prevent exploitation of this and similar kernel-level vulnerabilities. The IOAcceleratorFamily component's role in system performance optimization also means that any security flaws within it can have cascading effects on overall system integrity and reliability. This vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the risks associated with running outdated operating system versions. The exploitation methods for this vulnerability align with common attack patterns involving kernel exploits and privilege escalation techniques. Organizations should implement comprehensive security measures including application whitelisting and system monitoring to protect against potential exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's nature as a memory corruption issue means that exploitation techniques may include buffer overflow methods and memory manipulation attacks that target the kernel's memory management subsystem. Proper security awareness training for end users is crucial to prevent the installation of malicious applications that could exploit this vulnerability. The IOAcceleratorFamily component's integration with other system services makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can potentially affect multiple system functions. The vulnerability's resolution through Apple's security updates demonstrates the importance of vendor-provided patches in addressing kernel-level security issues. System administrators should ensure that all macOS systems are updated to versions that contain the necessary security fixes to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. The security implications of this vulnerability extend beyond immediate exploitation to include potential long-term system compromise and data integrity issues that could persist even after initial exploitation attempts.