CVE-2019-8675 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2020
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Mojave 10.14.6, Security Update 2019-004 High Sierra, Security Update 2019-004 Sierra. An attacker in a privileged network position may be able to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8675 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw that existed within Apple's macOS operating system implementations. This issue stems from inadequate memory handling practices that allowed malicious actors to exploit memory boundaries through carefully crafted inputs. The vulnerability specifically affects systems running macOS Mojave 10.14.5 and earlier versions, as well as older Security Updates for High Sierra and Sierra operating systems. The buffer overflow condition occurs when the system processes certain data inputs without proper boundary checks, creating opportunities for memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and code execution tactics. The flaw manifests when the system fails to validate input lengths against allocated buffer sizes, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The implementation flaw occurs at the kernel level where memory management functions do not properly enforce bounds checking during data processing operations.
From an operational impact perspective, the vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations running affected macOS versions. An attacker positioned within a privileged network location can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code on target systems, potentially gaining full system control. This capability enables malicious actors to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, and exfiltrate sensitive data without detection. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual user systems to enterprise environments where macOS devices may serve as entry points for broader network infiltration campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-8675 primarily focus on immediate system updates and patches provided by Apple. Organizations should prioritize deployment of macOS Mojave 10.14.6, Security Update 2019-004 for High Sierra, and Security Update 2019-004 for Sierra. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The remediation process should include comprehensive vulnerability scanning to identify all affected systems and establish baseline configurations that prevent unauthorized modifications to system memory management components. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that patch deployments have effectively resolved the buffer overflow conditions.