CVE-2023-40404 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14.1. An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition that exists within the macOS kernel memory management subsystem. The flaw occurs when an application attempts to access memory that has already been freed and potentially reallocated, creating a scenario where malicious code could exploit this memory inconsistency to gain unauthorized access. The vulnerability specifically affects the kernel's handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes, where proper memory management safeguards were insufficient to prevent the reuse of freed memory blocks. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory, and represents a significant security risk as it can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the highest privilege level available to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical application-level exploits, as it enables privilege escalation to kernel-level execution. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially execute malicious code with root privileges, effectively compromising the entire system. The kernel represents the core of the operating system where critical security functions reside, making any exploitation of kernel memory management flaws particularly dangerous. This vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious applications, web-based attacks, or even through compromised user accounts that could be leveraged to gain kernel-level access. The attack surface is broad since any application that interacts with kernel memory management or utilizes system-level resources could potentially be used as a delivery mechanism for exploitation.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, particularly focusing on kernel exploits and memory corruption attacks. This type of vulnerability typically requires sophisticated exploitation techniques and often involves multiple stages including initial access, memory corruption, and privilege escalation. The fix implemented in macOS Sonoma 14.1 addresses the root cause by improving memory management procedures and adding additional validation checks to prevent the reuse of freed memory blocks. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a class of issues that are particularly challenging to detect and exploit, often requiring advanced knowledge of the kernel's memory management internals. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the macOS Sonoma 14.1 update to protect against potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management practices in kernel-level code and highlights the need for continuous security auditing of system-level components. This particular flaw underscores the ongoing challenge of maintaining memory safety in complex operating system kernels where performance optimization and security must be carefully balanced.