CVE-2023-41981 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/27/2023
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.6, tvOS 17, iOS 16.7 and iPadOS 16.7, watchOS 10, iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma 14. An attacker that has already achieved kernel code execution may be able to bypass kernel memory mitigations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-41981 represents a significant concern in Apple's operating system security landscape, specifically targeting kernel memory management mechanisms that are fundamental to system integrity and protection. This issue manifests as a weakness in how the kernel handles memory allocations and deallocations, potentially allowing sophisticated attackers who have already gained kernel code execution privileges to circumvent existing memory protection measures. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple operating systems including macOS Ventura 13.6, tvOS 17, iOS 16.7 and iPadOS 16.7, watchOS 10, iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, as well as macOS Sonoma 14, indicating a widespread impact across the Apple ecosystem. The root cause lies in inadequate memory handling practices that create potential pathways for privilege escalation and bypass of security controls.
The technical flaw in CVE-2023-41981 operates at the kernel level where memory management routines fail to properly validate or constrain memory operations, creating opportunities for attackers to exploit existing kernel execution capabilities. This vulnerability specifically targets memory mitigations that are designed to prevent unauthorized access to kernel memory spaces, such as kernel address space layout randomization kASLR, kernel data execution prevention kDEP, and other memory protection mechanisms. When an attacker successfully executes code within the kernel context, they can leverage this memory handling weakness to subvert protections that should prevent them from accessing or manipulating critical kernel structures. The flaw essentially provides a method for bypassing these security controls through improper memory management that allows for more direct and unrestricted access to kernel resources than would normally be permitted.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-41981 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a potential pathway for attackers to gain deeper system control and access to sensitive data. Attackers who have already achieved kernel code execution can use this vulnerability to bypass memory protections that are typically effective in preventing further exploitation and system compromise. This creates a dangerous scenario where initial successful attacks can be leveraged to achieve more comprehensive system takeover, potentially allowing access to encrypted data, system credentials, and other sensitive information. The vulnerability affects devices running various Apple operating systems, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments and users who rely on Apple products for security-sensitive operations. The potential for bypassing memory mitigations means that even systems that might have previously been protected by these controls could become vulnerable to more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-41981 primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided security updates that address the underlying memory handling issues. Apple has released patches for all affected versions including macOS Ventura 13.6, tvOS 17, iOS 16.7 and iPadOS 16.7, watchOS 10, iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, as well as macOS Sonoma 14, which implement improved memory handling mechanisms to prevent the bypass of kernel memory protections. Organizations should prioritize deployment of these updates across all affected systems to ensure proper protection against exploitation attempts. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for any indicators of compromise that might suggest an attacker has already achieved kernel execution, as the vulnerability specifically targets scenarios where attackers have already gained this level of access. The fix addresses the core memory handling issue that enables bypass of security controls, aligning with best practices for memory safety and kernel protection as outlined in industry standards. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in kernel code and the potential consequences when these controls are insufficiently implemented. The issue relates to CWE-129, which covers improper validation of array index, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers exploit for privilege escalation, highlighting the specific pathway through which this vulnerability can be exploited to achieve more comprehensive system compromise.