CVE-2020-10007 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/09/2020
A logic issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Big Sur 11.0.1. A malicious application may be able to determine kernel memory layout.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-10007 represents a logic flaw in macOS Big Sur's kernel memory management system that could potentially expose sensitive kernel memory layout information to malicious applications. This issue stems from inadequate state management within the operating system's kernel components, creating a pathway for unauthorized memory enumeration that could aid in advanced exploitation techniques. The vulnerability specifically affects systems running macOS Big Sur prior to version 11.0.1, where the kernel's memory management state transitions were not properly secured against malicious inspection.
The technical flaw manifests through improper handling of kernel memory state information that should remain protected from user-space applications. When applications attempt to access certain kernel memory regions or manipulate kernel state variables, the system fails to properly validate or restrict these operations, allowing malicious software to infer memory layout patterns. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-248 category of "Uncaught Exception" and represents a significant information disclosure weakness that can be leveraged by threat actors to understand the kernel's memory organization. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because kernel memory layout information is crucial for advanced exploitation techniques such as kernel address space layout randomization (ASLR) bypasses and return-oriented programming (ROP) chain construction.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables malicious applications to perform kernel memory reconnaissance that could lead to more severe exploitation outcomes. Attackers could use the leaked memory layout information to craft more effective exploits against other vulnerabilities present in the system, effectively reducing the security posture of macOS Big Sur installations. The ability to determine kernel memory layout provides threat actors with insights into memory protection mechanisms, kernel data structures, and potential memory addresses that could be targeted in subsequent attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and can be particularly dangerous when combined with other kernel-level vulnerabilities, as it provides the necessary reconnaissance data for successful exploitation.
The fix implemented in macOS Big Sur 11.0.1 addresses this issue through improved state management protocols within the kernel memory subsystem. Apple's patch enhances the validation of kernel memory access operations and strengthens the isolation between kernel and user-space memory management components. System administrators should prioritize deployment of this update across all affected macOS Big Sur installations to prevent potential exploitation. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious kernel memory access patterns and ensure that automated patch management systems are configured to apply this security update promptly. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper kernel state management and access control mechanisms in preventing information disclosure that could undermine the entire operating system security model.