CVE-2019-8807 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Catalina 10.15.1. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with system privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8807 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that existed within Apple's macOS operating system prior to version 10.15.1. This issue stems from inadequate memory management practices that could potentially allow malicious applications to exploit memory handling mechanisms and escalate their privileges to system level access. The flaw specifically affects the kernel memory management subsystem where improper memory allocation and deallocation processes create opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents and execute unauthorized code with elevated privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These weaknesses in memory handling create a pathway for privilege escalation attacks where an attacker-controlled application could leverage the corrupted memory space to gain system-level privileges. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses standard user-space security boundaries and allows for complete system compromise. Attackers could potentially craft malicious applications that exploit this memory corruption to execute arbitrary code with root privileges, effectively undermining the entire security architecture of the operating system.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8807 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a fundamental weakness in macOS security model that could enable sophisticated attack campaigns. Once an attacker achieves system-level privileges through this vulnerability, they can manipulate any system component, access sensitive data, install persistent backdoors, and potentially use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within a network environment. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only that a user execute a malicious application, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter untrusted software or where social engineering attacks could be employed to trick users into running compromised applications. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where security policies may be less strictly enforced or where users may inadvertently execute malicious code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-8807 primarily focus on applying the official security update released by Apple as part of macOS Catalina 10.15.1. System administrators should prioritize immediate deployment of this update across all affected macOS systems to prevent exploitation. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, enabling system integrity protection mechanisms, and monitoring for suspicious system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider deploying endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block malicious code execution patterns associated with privilege escalation attacks. The fix addresses the underlying memory handling issues through improved memory allocation algorithms and enhanced bounds checking mechanisms that prevent the corruption conditions that previously enabled exploitation. Security teams should also implement regular vulnerability assessment procedures to identify and remediate similar issues in other system components and ensure that all software updates are applied promptly to maintain system security posture.