CVE-2018-4342 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
A configuration issue was addressed with additional restrictions. This issue affected versions prior to macOS Mojave 10.14.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4342 represents a configuration issue that existed in macOS versions prior to the release of macOS Mojave 10.14.1. This flaw was categorized as a security configuration weakness that could potentially allow unauthorized access to system resources or data. The issue stemmed from insufficient restrictions within the operating system's security framework, creating potential attack vectors that malicious actors could exploit. The vulnerability specifically affected the system's handling of certain configuration parameters that govern access controls and privilege levels within the macOS environment. Security researchers identified that the affected versions contained default configurations that were overly permissive, allowing for unauthorized access to system components that should have been restricted.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involved improper access control mechanisms within the macOS kernel and system services. When the system initialized or processed certain configuration settings, it failed to properly validate or enforce security restrictions that should have been applied to prevent unauthorized access. This configuration flaw could potentially allow local users or attackers with limited privileges to escalate their access rights or gain access to sensitive system information. The issue was particularly concerning because it affected core system components that handle user authentication, file access controls, and privilege management functions. The vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including local privilege escalation or through malicious software that could manipulate system configurations to bypass normal security restrictions.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4342 was significant for organizations and individual users running affected macOS versions. Systems that were not updated to macOS Mojave 10.14.1 remained vulnerable to potential exploitation, creating risks for data breaches, unauthorized system access, and potential escalation of privileges. The vulnerability could have enabled attackers to access sensitive user data, system files, and potentially gain administrative privileges on affected systems. Organizations with multiple macOS devices were particularly at risk, as a single vulnerable system could serve as a foothold for broader network infiltration. The impact extended beyond individual users to enterprise environments where macOS systems might be used for sensitive data processing or as part of critical infrastructure components.
The remediation for this vulnerability required updating affected systems to macOS Mojave 10.14.1 or later versions that contained the necessary security patches and configuration improvements. Apple addressed this issue through a security update that implemented additional restrictions and improved validation mechanisms for system configurations. The patch corrected the improper access control implementation by enforcing stricter validation of configuration parameters and enhancing the privilege management system. Security administrators were advised to prioritize the deployment of this update across all affected systems to eliminate the potential attack surface. Organizations should have implemented a comprehensive update strategy that included testing procedures to ensure compatibility while maintaining security posture. The fix aligned with industry best practices for configuration management and access control enforcement, addressing the underlying issues that allowed the vulnerability to exist in the first place.
This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper configuration management in operating system security frameworks and aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges and access control issues. The remediation approach follows ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and configuration management, emphasizing the need for robust system hardening and regular security updates. Organizations should maintain continuous monitoring of their macOS environments to ensure all systems remain current with security patches and that configuration settings are properly enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.