CVE-2018-4159 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.13.5 is affected. The issue involves the "Graphics Drivers" component. It allows attackers to bypass intended memory-read restrictions via a crafted app.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4159 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.13.5. This issue resides within the Graphics Drivers component, which serves as a fundamental interface between the operating system and hardware graphics processing units. The flaw stems from insufficient memory protection mechanisms that fail to properly enforce read restrictions on memory regions, creating a pathway for malicious applications to access protected memory spaces that should remain inaccessible to regular user-level processes. This vulnerability specifically targets the memory management controls implemented by Apple's graphics subsystem, which are designed to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system resources while maintaining proper isolation between different application contexts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to craft malicious applications that can bypass the intended memory-read restrictions through sophisticated manipulation of graphics driver interfaces. This allows unauthorized memory access that could potentially expose sensitive data, system internals, or other protected resources. The flaw operates at a low-level system interface where graphics processing commands are interpreted and executed, creating a vector through which attackers can escalate privileges or extract confidential information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because graphics drivers typically operate with elevated privileges and have direct access to system memory, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to gain deeper system access. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-264 category of "Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls" and represents a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement within the graphics subsystem.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4159 extends beyond simple memory access violations, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the macOS environment. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can potentially access memory regions containing sensitive information such as encryption keys, user credentials, or system configuration data. The vulnerability could be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise. This weakness particularly affects systems running macOS versions earlier than 10.13.5, where the graphics driver memory protection mechanisms were not sufficiently hardened against such attacks. The exploitation could occur through seemingly benign applications that appear legitimate to users but contain malicious code designed to trigger the memory access bypass. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1055 for privilege escalation and T1003 for credential access, demonstrating how graphics driver flaws can serve as entry points for broader security breaches.
Organizations and users affected by CVE-2018-4159 should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of macOS 10.13.5 or later updates, which contain patches specifically designed to address the memory protection deficiencies in the graphics driver component. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected macOS versions and implement mandatory update policies. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around graphics driver activity and memory access patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date system components and demonstrates how seemingly isolated driver flaws can create significant security risks. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting, memory protection software, and regular security audits to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The patch released by Apple addresses the root cause by strengthening memory access controls and implementing more robust isolation mechanisms within the graphics driver subsystem, ensuring that user applications cannot bypass the intended memory protection boundaries.