CVE-2022-26704 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/26/2022
A validation issue existed in the handling of symlinks and was addressed with improved validation of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.4. An app may be able to gain elevated privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw in macOS Monterey versions prior to 12.4, where improper validation of symbolic links allowed malicious applications to potentially elevate their privileges. The issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize symlink references during file system operations. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious symlink structures that bypass normal security checks, enabling unauthorized access to protected system resources and capabilities. The vulnerability specifically affects the kernel-level handling of symbolic links, which are essential components in Unix-like operating systems for creating references to files or directories without duplicating data.
The technical flaw manifests when applications process symbolic links without adequate verification of their target paths, allowing attackers to manipulate file system traversal logic. This issue falls under the CWE-59 category, which encompasses improper handling of symbolic links, and directly relates to privilege escalation vulnerabilities that enable malicious actors to gain elevated system privileges. The vulnerability exists in the core file system validation mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized access to protected resources. When an application processes a symlink, the system should verify that the target path does not lead to restricted areas of the file system or that the symlink does not create unexpected access patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive system information and capabilities that should remain restricted to authorized processes. An attacker could leverage this flaw to access system configuration files, modify critical applications, or establish persistent access mechanisms within the operating system. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of macOS, where symbolic link validation is crucial for maintaining proper access controls and preventing unauthorized system modifications. This weakness could enable attackers to bypass security controls that normally prevent applications from accessing privileged resources, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate system updates to macOS Monterey 12.4 or later versions where the vulnerability has been addressed through enhanced symlink validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious symlink creation patterns and ensure that all system applications undergo proper security validation before deployment. The fix implemented by Apple involves strengthening the kernel-level validation of symbolic link targets, ensuring that all symlink operations are properly checked against access control lists and system security policies. Security teams should also consider implementing additional controls such as file integrity monitoring and privileged access management solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current system patches and the critical role that proper input validation plays in preventing privilege escalation attacks, aligning with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques that leverage system-level weaknesses.