CVE-2018-10171 in MacKeeper
Summary
by MITRE
Kromtech MacKeeper 3.20.4 suffers from a root privilege escalation vulnerability through its `com.mackeeper.AdwareAnalyzer.AdwareAnalyzerPrivilegedHelper` component. The AdwareAnalzyerPrivilegedHelper tool implements an XPC service that allows an unprivileged application to connect and execute shell scripts as the root user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10171 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Kromtech MacKeeper 3.20.4 that exploits the macOS XPC (Cross-Process Communication) mechanism to elevate privileges from unprivileged user contexts to root level. This vulnerability specifically targets the `com.mackeeper.AdwareAnalyzer.AdwareAnalyzerPrivilegedHelper` component which serves as a privileged helper tool designed to perform system-level operations. The flaw exists in the implementation of the XPC service that is intended to provide restricted system access but instead creates an insecure pathway for privilege escalation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper access controls within the XPC service architecture. The AdwareAnalyzerPrivilegedHelper component is configured to accept connections from unprivileged applications without adequate authentication or authorization checks. When an unprivileged user application connects to this XPC service, it can transmit shell commands that are executed with root privileges through the helper tool's privileged execution context. This design flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and creates an attack vector where malicious actors can leverage the helper tool to execute arbitrary code with system-level permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and directly aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command) categories. An attacker with local user access can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary shell commands as root without requiring additional authentication or system compromise. This capability enables full system compromise including but not limited to installing malware, modifying system files, creating persistent backdoors, and exfiltrating sensitive data. The vulnerability effectively bypasses macOS security mechanisms such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) by leveraging the legitimate privileged helper tool to perform unauthorized system operations.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates a classic privilege escalation pattern that maps to ATT&CK technique T1068 (Local Privilege Escalation) and T1543.003 (Create or Modify System Process: Launch Agent). The attack surface is particularly concerning because it requires no specialized tools or complex exploitation techniques beyond connecting to the vulnerable XPC service. Mitigation strategies include immediate removal of the vulnerable MacKeeper software, implementation of XPC service access controls, and enforcement of proper code signing requirements for privileged helper tools. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security audits of third-party applications to identify similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities in their software ecosystems. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of secure XPC service implementation and proper privilege management in macOS applications to prevent unauthorized elevation of privileges.