CVE-2019-8561 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
A logic issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Mojave 10.14.4. A malicious application may be able to elevate privileges.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2024
This vulnerability represents a privilege escalation flaw in macOS Mojave versions prior to 10.14.4, where a logical validation weakness allowed malicious applications to potentially elevate their privileges beyond intended restrictions. The issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify application permissions and access controls during system operations. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious applications that manipulate system validation checks, bypassing normal security boundaries that should prevent unauthorized privilege elevation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-215, which addresses information exposure through improper privilege management, and CWE-255, concerning credential management flaws that could lead to unauthorized access. The flaw operates at the system kernel level where application sandboxing mechanisms fail to properly validate the integrity of privilege requests, creating a pathway for malicious code to escalate from standard user privileges to administrative levels. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it undermines the fundamental security model of macOS, which relies on strict privilege boundaries to protect system integrity.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise environments where attackers could leverage it to gain root access to affected systems. The impact extends beyond individual machines to potentially compromise entire network infrastructures, as attackers could use elevated privileges to install persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malware. The exploitability factor is moderate to high since it requires only a malicious application to be executed, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may inadvertently install compromised software or where social engineering attacks are prevalent. The vulnerability affects systems running macOS Mojave versions earlier than 10.14.4, which were widely deployed in enterprise and consumer environments.
The mitigation strategy centers on immediate deployment of macOS Mojave 10.14.4 updates, which contain the necessary validation improvements to address the privilege escalation vector. Organizations should also implement strict application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted applications, conduct regular security audits of system configurations, and monitor for suspicious privilege escalation attempts. Network segmentation and enhanced endpoint protection solutions can provide additional layers of defense. The fix addresses the underlying validation logic by implementing stricter checks on application permissions and ensuring that privilege elevation requests undergo comprehensive verification before being granted, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through system binary manipulation and validation bypasses. Security teams should also consider implementing behavioral monitoring to detect anomalous privilege escalation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.