CVE-2018-4402 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue affected versions prior to macOS Mojave 10.14.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2024
The memory corruption vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4402 represents a critical flaw in Apple's macOS operating system that was resolved through enhanced memory handling mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically impacted systems running versions prior to macOS Mojave 10.14.1, indicating a regression or oversight in the memory management subsystem that could have been exploited by malicious actors. The issue falls under the category of memory safety vulnerabilities, which are particularly dangerous as they can lead to arbitrary code execution and system compromise. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125: "Out-of-bounds Read" and CWE-787: "Out-of-bounds Write", both of which are fundamental memory corruption patterns that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature.
The technical flaw underlying CVE-2018-4402 stems from insufficient bounds checking and improper memory allocation handling within the kernel or system-level components of macOS. When applications or system processes interact with memory regions, the operating system's memory management unit should enforce strict boundaries to prevent unauthorized access or modification of memory locations. However, in affected versions, the system failed to properly validate memory operations, allowing for potential buffer overflows or underflows that could corrupt adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level where privileges are highest, meaning successful exploitation could provide attackers with complete system control. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1068: "Local Privilege Escalation" and T1059: "Command and Scripting Interpreter" as attackers could leverage such memory corruption to execute malicious code with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4402 extends beyond simple system instability, as memory corruption vulnerabilities often provide attackers with multiple attack vectors for more sophisticated exploits. Systems running vulnerable versions of macOS would be susceptible to various attack scenarios including privilege escalation, denial of service conditions, and potentially remote code execution depending on the specific implementation details. Organizations relying on macOS systems for critical operations faced significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where system integrity and availability are paramount. The vulnerability's presence in pre-release versions of macOS Mojave indicates that Apple's security team identified the issue during their internal testing phases but needed to provide a comprehensive fix through the 10.14.1 update release. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of timely security patch deployment and highlights how seemingly minor memory handling issues can have substantial security implications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-4402 primarily involve immediate system updates to macOS Mojave 10.14.1 or later versions where Apple has implemented improved memory handling mechanisms. System administrators should prioritize patch management processes to ensure all macOS devices are updated promptly, as this vulnerability represents a clear security risk that could be exploited by threat actors. Additional defensive measures include monitoring system logs for unusual memory access patterns and implementing network segmentation to limit potential attack surface. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of memory safety in operating system design and the necessity of robust input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing security monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous memory behavior indicative of potential exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should include memory corruption testing to identify similar weaknesses in custom applications or third-party software components that may be running on affected systems.