CVE-2019-8564 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2020
A logic issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Mojave 10.14.4, Security Update 2019-002 High Sierra, Security Update 2019-002 Sierra. An attacker in a privileged network position can modify driver state.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8564 represents a logic flaw in macOS operating systems that affects driver state management within the kernel. This issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that allow unauthorized modification of driver states when an attacker gains a privileged network position. The vulnerability impacts multiple versions of macOS including Mojave 10.14.4 and various security updates for High Sierra and Sierra operating systems. The flaw resides in the kernel's driver management subsystem where proper state validation is not adequately enforced, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to manipulate kernel driver states.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of inadequate input validation and state management within the kernel space. When drivers are loaded or modified, the system should enforce strict validation protocols to ensure that state transitions occur only through legitimate channels. However, the logic flaw allows an attacker positioned within a privileged network segment to inject malicious state modifications that bypass these validation checks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-252, which describes "Unchecked Return Value" and represents a failure to properly validate driver state transitions within the kernel. The attack vector requires network-level privileges, suggesting that the vulnerability can be exploited through man-in-the-middle attacks or by compromising network infrastructure that allows packet injection or modification.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8564 extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the kernel's driver management system. When an attacker successfully modifies driver states, they can potentially manipulate hardware behavior, disable security features, or create persistent backdoors within the kernel space. This type of vulnerability provides attackers with a powerful mechanism for maintaining persistence and escalating privileges within the operating system. The security implications are particularly severe given that driver state manipulation can affect critical system functions including device drivers, kernel extensions, and hardware abstraction layers that form the foundation of system security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-8564 require immediate deployment of the vendor-provided security updates for affected macOS versions. The recommended approach involves applying macOS Mojave 10.14.4 and the corresponding Security Update 2019-002 for High Sierra and Sierra systems. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability requires network-level privileges to be effective. Network administrators should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that monitor for unusual driver state modifications or kernel-level activities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving kernel manipulation and privilege escalation, specifically targeting the system's driver management capabilities. The fix implemented by Apple addresses the root cause through enhanced validation mechanisms that properly enforce driver state transitions and prevent unauthorized modifications. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough security assessments to ensure all affected systems have been properly updated and monitor for any signs of exploitation attempts that might have occurred before the patch was applied.