CVE-2018-4044 in CleanMyMac X
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the helper service of Clean My Mac X, version 4.04, due to improper input validation. An attacker with local access could exploit this vulnerability to modify the file system as root.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4044 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Clean My Mac X application version 4.04 helper service. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that allow unauthorized local users to manipulate system resources with elevated privileges. The helper service component operates with root permissions to perform various system cleanup operations, creating an attack surface where improper validation can lead to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through the helper service's failure to properly sanitize user inputs before processing them. When the Clean My Mac X application executes cleanup operations, it relies on a helper tool that runs with root privileges to modify system files and directories. The flaw occurs during input handling where the application fails to validate or sanitize parameters passed to the helper service, allowing attackers to inject malicious commands or file paths that bypass normal access controls. This improper input validation creates a direct path for privilege escalation as the helper service processes untrusted data with elevated permissions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to system security as it allows local attackers to gain root-level access without requiring authentication or additional attack vectors. The impact extends beyond simple file modification to potentially enable full system compromise, as attackers can manipulate critical system files, install malicious software, or establish persistent access mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only local access to exploit, making it accessible through various attack vectors including physical access, social engineering, or other initial compromise techniques that provide local user privileges.
The attack surface for this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software security design. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of a legitimate system utility, making detection more challenging for traditional security monitoring tools. The helper service architecture creates a trusted execution environment that, when compromised, provides attackers with elevated privileges that bypass normal user permission models.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-4044 should focus on immediate patching of the Clean My Mac X application to version 4.05 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious helper service activity and consider restricting access to the helper tool through system configuration. Additionally, security teams should review and validate the integrity of system cleanup utilities, ensuring that privilege escalation mechanisms are properly implemented with robust input validation and access controls. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in privileged system components and highlights the need for regular security assessments of helper services and system utilities that operate with elevated privileges.