CVE-2018-4091 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.13.3 is affected. The issue involves the "Sandbox" component. It allows bypass of a sandbox protection mechanism.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4091 represents a critical sandbox bypass flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.13.3. This security weakness resides within the sandbox component of the operating system, which is designed to isolate applications and prevent them from accessing unauthorized system resources. The sandbox mechanism serves as a fundamental security feature that restricts application privileges and limits potential damage from malicious software or exploitable applications. When compromised, this protection layer can allow unauthorized access to system resources that should remain restricted to prevent privilege escalation attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation within the sandbox subsystem that governs application permissions and resource access controls. Attackers can exploit this flaw to circumvent the sandbox restrictions that normally prevent applications from accessing sensitive system areas, user data, or other applications' memory spaces. This bypass mechanism effectively undermines the core security model of macOS, which relies on strict sandboxing to maintain system integrity and user privacy. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can enable attackers to gain access to confidential information, modify system files, or execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The operational consequences of CVE-2018-4091 are particularly severe given that macOS systems running affected versions remain vulnerable to sophisticated attacks that could compromise user data and system security. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and can be leveraged to achieve privilege escalation as outlined in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques. The flaw particularly affects systems where sandboxed applications might be used to access sensitive files or perform operations that should be restricted by the operating system's security model. Organizations and individual users running vulnerable macOS versions face increased risk of targeted attacks that exploit this sandbox bypass to gain unauthorized access to system resources and user information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-4091 primarily involve immediate system updates to macOS 10.13.3 or later versions where Apple has implemented patches addressing the sandbox validation issues. System administrators should prioritize deployment of these updates across all affected devices, particularly those handling sensitive data or operating in high-risk environments. Additionally, implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting, monitoring for suspicious system access patterns, and maintaining updated antivirus solutions can provide layered defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of timely security patch management and highlights how sandbox bypasses can undermine fundamental operating system security mechanisms, making regular system updates essential for maintaining robust security postures against evolving threats.