CVE-2023-41979 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/27/2023
A race condition was addressed with improved locking. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14. An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-41979 represents a race condition flaw in macOS Sonoma 14 that could potentially allow malicious applications to modify protected filesystem components. This type of vulnerability arises from improper synchronization mechanisms during concurrent system operations, creating temporal windows where system protections can be bypassed. The race condition specifically affects the file system's locking mechanisms, which are fundamental to maintaining system integrity and preventing unauthorized modifications to critical system areas.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate locking protocols that govern access to protected filesystem regions. When multiple processes or threads attempt to access or modify the same system resources simultaneously, the absence of proper synchronization can result in unpredictable behavior where security controls are temporarily circumvented. This issue falls under the CWE-362 category of "Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.003 for execution through shared resources. The vulnerability manifests when an application exploits the timing window between lock acquisition and release, allowing it to perform unauthorized modifications to protected system areas.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-41979 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with the capability to modify critical system components that are normally protected from unauthorized access. This could potentially enable attackers to install malicious software, alter system configurations, or compromise the integrity of the operating system's core functions. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to persistent threats where attackers maintain access even after system restarts, as modifications to protected filesystem areas could alter system behavior in ways that are difficult to detect through standard security monitoring. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where users have administrative privileges or where applications with elevated permissions are present.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus primarily on the immediate deployment of the macOS Sonoma 14 update which implements improved locking mechanisms to address the race condition. System administrators should prioritize patching across all affected systems and monitor for any unusual filesystem modifications following the update. Additional protective measures include implementing strict application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized applications from running, enabling system integrity protection features, and conducting regular forensic analysis of filesystem changes. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address filesystem integrity violations. The fix addresses the root cause by strengthening the locking mechanisms that govern access to protected filesystem components, thereby eliminating the temporal window that previously allowed unauthorized modifications.