CVE-2018-4152 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.13.4 is affected. The issue involves the "Notes" component. A race condition allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4152 represents a critical race condition flaw within Apple's Notes application on macOS systems prior to version 10.13.4. This security weakness stems from improper synchronization mechanisms during file operations within the Notes component, creating a window of opportunity for malicious actors to exploit the system's privilege escalation capabilities. The race condition occurs when the Notes application handles file creation and modification processes, allowing attackers to manipulate timing dependencies in a way that can lead to unauthorized code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages a classic race condition attack pattern where an attacker crafts a malicious application that can manipulate the Notes component's file handling behavior. When the Notes application processes certain file operations, particularly those involving temporary files or shared resources, the timing gap between file creation and access allows for arbitrary code execution within the privileged context of the Notes process. This flaw specifically affects macOS versions before 10.13.4, indicating that Apple had not yet addressed the synchronization issues present in earlier releases. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-362, which describes race conditions that can lead to privilege escalation and unauthorized code execution, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through race conditions and timing attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4152 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges within the macOS environment. Since the Notes application typically runs with higher privileges than standard user applications, successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install persistent backdoors, escalate privileges to root access, or perform data exfiltration from the compromised system. The vulnerability's presence in the Notes component is particularly concerning because this application is frequently used and trusted by users, making social engineering attacks more effective. Organizations and individuals using affected macOS versions face significant risk, as the attack vector requires minimal user interaction beyond launching the malicious application, making it a potent threat for targeted attacks or mass exploitation campaigns.
Apple addressed this vulnerability through a combination of code-level fixes that corrected the race condition in the Notes application's file handling routines. The security update implemented proper synchronization mechanisms and improved file access controls to prevent the timing gaps that previously enabled exploitation. Users should immediately update to macOS 10.13.4 or later versions to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability remains exploitable in older system versions. Security professionals should monitor for indicators of compromise related to suspicious Notes application behavior or unexpected privilege escalation attempts. The fix demonstrates Apple's approach to addressing race condition vulnerabilities through improved process synchronization and privilege management, aligning with industry best practices for preventing timing-based security exploits. Organizations should conduct vulnerability assessments to ensure all macOS systems are updated and consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific flaw.