CVE-2019-8852 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2020
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Catalina 10.15.2, Security Update 2019-002 Mojave, and Security Update 2019-007 High Sierra. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2020
This memory corruption vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in apple's operating system that could enable malicious applications to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with kernel-level permissions. The issue stems from inadequate memory handling mechanisms within the system's kernel components, specifically affecting the memory management subsystem that governs how system resources are allocated and deallocated. The vulnerability was addressed through enhanced memory handling protocols that prevent improper memory access patterns which could lead to exploitable conditions.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with common memory corruption patterns that fall under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow conditions, though the specific implementation details suggest more complex memory management issues that could involve heap corruption or use-after-free scenarios. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability through specially crafted applications that manipulate memory allocation patterns to trigger the corrupted state, ultimately gaining unauthorized kernel access. This type of vulnerability represents a significant threat vector because kernel-level privileges provide attackers with complete system control, enabling them to bypass all user-mode security controls and access sensitive system resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8852 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Once an attacker achieves kernel-level execution, they can modify system files, install persistent backdoors, monitor network traffic, and extract sensitive data without detection. The vulnerability affects multiple apple operating system versions including macOS catalina 10.15.2, security update 2019-002 for mojave, and security update 2019-007 for high sierra, indicating this was a widespread issue affecting the entire apple ecosystem. This vulnerability classification corresponds to the ATT&CK technique T1055.001 which covers process injection methods and represents a fundamental compromise of the system's security model.
Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the applicable security updates to mitigate this vulnerability, as the potential for exploitation remains high given the availability of proof-of-concept code and the broad attack surface this flaw presents. System administrators should implement additional monitoring for suspicious kernel activity and memory access patterns, while security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify potentially compromised systems. The remediation process requires careful attention to ensure that all affected operating system versions receive the appropriate security patches, with particular emphasis on maintaining system integrity during the update process to prevent exploitation during the patch deployment window.