CVE-2020-10012 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/09/2020
An access issue was addressed with improved access restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Big Sur 11.0.1. Processing a maliciously crafted document may lead to a cross site scripting attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-10012 represents a significant access control weakness in macOS Big Sur prior to version 11.0.1, specifically affecting the handling of document processing within the operating system's security framework. This issue falls under the broader category of access control vulnerabilities that can potentially enable unauthorized access to system resources and user data. The flaw manifests when the system processes maliciously crafted documents, creating an avenue for cross site scripting attacks that could compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the affected environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access restrictions during document processing operations, allowing malicious payloads to bypass normal security boundaries that should prevent unauthorized code execution. This weakness enables attackers to craft specially formatted documents that, when opened or processed by the vulnerable system, can inject malicious scripts into web-based interfaces or applications. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, which encompasses problems where systems fail to properly enforce access restrictions, and specifically relates to improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to resources or information.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-10012 extends beyond simple document processing, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple application contexts within macOS environments. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could potentially harvest user credentials, execute arbitrary code, or establish persistent access to affected systems through the cross site scripting mechanism. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, typically involving the opening of a malicious document, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently handle documents from external sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-10012 primarily focus on immediate system updates to macOS Big Sur 11.0.1 or later versions where the access restriction improvements have been implemented. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including enhanced email filtering to prevent delivery of malicious documents, regular security awareness training for users to recognize potentially harmful attachments, and network-based monitoring to detect suspicious document processing activities. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, which emphasizes the importance of patch management and access control hardening to prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting document handling capabilities in high-risk environments to minimize the attack surface available to potential adversaries.