CVE-2020-9898 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/23/2020
This issue was addressed with improved entitlements. This issue is fixed in iOS 13.6 and iPadOS 13.6, macOS Catalina 10.15.6. A sandboxed process may be able to circumvent sandbox restrictions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2022
This vulnerability represents a sandbox escape issue that affects Apple's operating systems including iOS 13.6, iPadOS 13.6, and macOS Catalina 10.15.6. The flaw resides in the entitlement management system that controls what resources and capabilities sandboxed processes can access within the operating system environment. Sandboxing is a fundamental security mechanism designed to isolate applications and prevent them from accessing unauthorized system resources or other applications' data. When a sandboxed process can circumvent these restrictions, it fundamentally undermines the security model that protects users from potentially malicious applications and system exploits.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper entitlement handling within Apple's security framework. Entitlements are permissions that define what capabilities an application can exercise within the system, and they are crucial for maintaining the integrity of the sandbox environment. The flaw allows a malicious or compromised application to gain elevated privileges that should normally be restricted to the sandboxed environment. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE category of improper access control, specifically CWE-284 which deals with improper access control or inadequate access control mechanisms. The issue is particularly concerning because it affects the core security architecture that separates user applications from system resources and other applications.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability could enable attackers to bypass security controls that are meant to protect system integrity and user privacy. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive system resources, read protected files, or perform actions that should be restricted to system-level processes or privileged applications. The attack surface is significant as it affects multiple Apple platforms including mobile and desktop operating systems, meaning that successful exploitation could occur across various device types. This vulnerability would be particularly valuable to threat actors targeting Apple ecosystems, as it could be used to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to systems than would normally be possible through standard application interfaces.
The mitigation for this vulnerability involves updating to the patched versions of iOS 13.6, iPadOS 13.6, and macOS Catalina 10.15.6 where Apple has implemented improved entitlement management controls. This update addresses the underlying issue by strengthening the access control mechanisms that govern how sandboxed processes interact with system resources. Security practitioners should prioritize this update across all affected systems, as the vulnerability represents a significant risk to system integrity and user data protection. The fix demonstrates Apple's ongoing commitment to addressing sandbox escape vulnerabilities and maintaining the security boundaries that protect users from malicious applications. Organizations should also implement monitoring for any suspicious behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around unauthorized access to system resources or unexpected privilege escalation events, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques that could leverage such sandbox bypass vulnerabilities.