CVE-2023-40307 in Privileges
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
An attacker with standard privileges on macOS when requesting administrator privileges from the application can submit input which causes a buffer overflow resulting in a crash of the application. This could make the application unavailable and allow reading or modification of data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow condition within macOS applications that handle administrator privilege requests, specifically affecting the interaction between standard user processes and elevated privilege mechanisms. The flaw occurs when applications attempt to process user input during privilege escalation workflows, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to exploit memory management weaknesses in the system's authorization framework. The vulnerability manifests when standard users submit crafted input to applications that request administrator privileges, leading to memory corruption that results in application crashes and potential system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common buffer overflow patterns found in C and C++ based applications where input validation fails to properly check boundaries before copying data into fixed-size memory buffers. This type of flaw typically occurs in authorization routines where application code does not adequately sanitize user-provided data before processing it within privileged contexts. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121 which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-122 for heap-based buffer overflows depending on the specific implementation details. When exploited, the buffer overflow can cause the application to crash due to memory corruption, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code or gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it creates potential entry points for more sophisticated attacks within the macOS ecosystem. An attacker could leverage this weakness to cause denial of service conditions, making legitimate applications unavailable to authorized users, while simultaneously creating opportunities for data exfiltration or modification. The privilege escalation nature of the vulnerability means that even standard users could potentially exploit this weakness to gain elevated privileges, though the specific scope depends on the application's implementation and the underlying system security controls. This vulnerability particularly affects applications that interface with macOS's authorization services and may impact system-wide stability if exploited in core system components.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and boundary checking within all privilege escalation workflows, including the use of modern programming practices that avoid dangerous functions like strcpy and sprintf. Applications should employ stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and other exploit mitigation techniques to reduce the effectiveness of potential buffer overflow attacks. System administrators should ensure that all applications requesting administrator privileges implement proper input sanitization and validation before processing any user-provided data. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security reviews of authorization mechanisms, particularly those that handle sensitive privilege escalation workflows. Organizations should prioritize patching affected applications and consider implementing runtime monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of robust input validation in security-sensitive code paths and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.