CVE-2018-4180 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
In macOS High Sierra before 10.13.5, an issue existed in CUPS. This issue was addressed with improved access restrictions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4180 resides within the Common Unix Printing System CUPS component of macOS High Sierra versions prior to 10.13.5. This flaw represents a significant security weakness in the operating system's printing subsystem that could potentially allow unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The issue specifically manifests in how CUPS handles access controls for printer configuration and management operations, creating a potential attack vector for malicious actors seeking to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized system access.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access restrictions within the CUPS printing service implementation. When macOS High Sierra operates with CUPS versions affected by this issue, the system fails to properly enforce mandatory access controls for printer-related operations. This weakness allows local users to potentially manipulate printer settings and access privileged system resources that should normally be restricted to authorized administrative users only. The flaw operates at the kernel level within the printing subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to bypass standard security mechanisms that protect against unauthorized system modifications.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4180 extends beyond simple privilege escalation capabilities, as it can enable attackers to manipulate the printing environment in ways that might facilitate further exploitation. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially modify printer configurations to redirect print jobs to malicious endpoints, install unauthorized printer drivers, or gain access to sensitive information that flows through the printing system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which specifically addresses improper access control issues in software systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where multiple users share systems and where printing services are frequently utilized for document management and distribution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on applying the official security update released by Apple as part of macOS High Sierra version 10.13.5. System administrators should prioritize deployment of this update across all affected systems to ensure proper access restrictions are enforced within the CUPS subsystem. Additionally, organizations should implement network segmentation and monitoring of printing services to detect any suspicious activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include verification that the updated CUPS service properly enforces access controls and that no unauthorized printer configurations have been established. Security teams should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for printer service accounts and regularly audit printer configurations to identify any potential unauthorized modifications that could indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current system patches and highlights how seemingly benign services like printing can represent significant security risks when access controls are improperly implemented.