CVE-2018-4046 in CleanMyMac X
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable denial-of-service vulnerability exists in the helper service of Clean My Mac X, version 4.04, due to improper input validation. A user with local access can use this vulnerability to terminate a privileged helper application. An attacker would need local access to the machine for a successful exploit.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4046 represents a critical denial-of-service weakness within the Clean My Mac X software suite, specifically affecting version 4.04. This issue resides in the helper service component that operates with elevated privileges, creating a significant security risk for systems running this software. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or verify user-provided data before processing within the privileged context. The helper service, designed to perform system-level operations, becomes susceptible to exploitation when it receives malformed or unexpected input that triggers unexpected behavior leading to application termination.
This flaw operates under the principle of privilege escalation through denial-of-service mechanisms, where a local attacker can manipulate the helper service to crash or terminate its execution. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software design that allows malicious inputs to disrupt normal application flow. The attack vector requires local access to the target system, making it a local privilege escalation vulnerability that leverages the helper service's elevated permissions to cause system disruption. The security implications extend beyond simple service interruption as the helper service operates with administrative privileges, potentially allowing an attacker to disrupt critical system maintenance functions performed by Clean My Mac X.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests as a reliable denial-of-service condition that can be repeatedly exploited by any local user to terminate the privileged helper application. This disruption affects the software's ability to perform legitimate system cleanup and optimization tasks, potentially leaving the system in an inconsistent state. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require specialized knowledge or external network access, making it particularly concerning for environments where local access control is insufficient. From an adversarial perspective, this weakness provides a straightforward method to disable security-related functionality, potentially creating opportunities for further exploitation or system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-4046 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization within the helper service component. The recommended approach includes strengthening the validation routines to reject malformed inputs before they reach critical processing functions, as well as implementing robust error handling that prevents crash conditions from occurring. Organizations should consider updating to newer versions of Clean My Mac X where this vulnerability has been addressed, as the software vendor likely implemented proper input validation mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for unauthorized local access and implement least privilege principles to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The mitigation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting local privilege escalation vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for proper access controls and input validation to prevent exploitation of such weaknesses in system components.