CVE-2018-4413 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
A memory initialization issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue affected versions prior to iOS 12.1, macOS Mojave 10.14.1, tvOS 12.1, watchOS 5.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4413 represents a memory initialization flaw that existed in Apple's operating systems prior to specific security updates. This issue stems from inadequate memory handling practices during system initialization phases, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS, demonstrating the widespread nature of the memory management problem. The flaw specifically manifested in versions where memory allocation and initialization processes were not properly secured, potentially allowing unauthorized access to system resources or execution of arbitrary code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper memory initialization during the boot and runtime processes of affected Apple operating systems. When systems initialize memory structures, they typically allocate and prepare memory regions for use by various system components and applications. In vulnerable versions, the memory initialization process failed to properly secure or validate memory regions, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents or access uninitialized memory areas. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory safety issues that are commonly classified as CWE-457, which deals with use of uninitialized variables, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions. The weakness represents a fundamental failure in memory management protocols that should have been addressed through proper initialization routines and memory validation checks.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4413 extends across multiple threat vectors and attack scenarios that could compromise system integrity and user data. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to execute code with elevated privileges, access sensitive system information, or manipulate memory contents to gain unauthorized control over affected devices. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Apple platforms creates a significant attack surface, as users across different device types could be simultaneously compromised. This memory initialization flaw could enable attackers to perform privilege escalation attacks, where they gain elevated system privileges through manipulation of uninitialized memory regions. The impact is particularly concerning given that these affected versions were widely deployed across consumer and enterprise environments, potentially exposing millions of devices to exploitation.
Security mitigations for CVE-2018-4413 primarily involve applying the official security updates released by Apple to address the memory handling deficiencies. Users should immediately install iOS 12.1, macOS Mojave 10.14.1, tvOS 12.1, and watchOS 5.1 updates to resolve the vulnerability. These updates implement improved memory initialization routines and enhanced memory validation mechanisms that prevent the exploitation scenarios associated with the flaw. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify devices running vulnerable versions and ensure all systems are updated promptly. The fix addresses the underlying memory management issues through improved initialization procedures and enhanced memory protection mechanisms that align with security best practices outlined in the ATT&CK framework under the system binary privileges and privilege escalation techniques. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for any signs of exploitation attempts and maintain updated threat intelligence to detect potential attempts to leverage this vulnerability in the wild.