CVE-2023-42850 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
The issue was addressed with improved permissions logic. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14.1. An app may be able to access sensitive user data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42850 represents a critical access control flaw within macOS Sonoma 14.1 that could potentially allow unauthorized applications to access sensitive user data. This issue stems from inadequate permissions logic that fails to properly enforce data access boundaries between applications and user information. The flaw exists in the operating system's security model where proper authorization checks are not consistently applied when applications attempt to access user data, creating a potential attack surface that adversaries could exploit to gain unauthorized access to personal information.
This vulnerability falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-284, where applications may bypass security restrictions to access resources they should not be permitted to access. The technical implementation flaw occurs at the kernel level or system framework where permission validation mechanisms are insufficiently enforced. Attackers could potentially leverage this weakness to access sensitive user data including but not limited to personal files, communications, location information, and other private user content that should be protected by the operating system's security model.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-42850 extends beyond simple data access violations as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege that is central to modern operating system security. When applications can bypass legitimate access controls, it creates a persistent threat vector that could be exploited by malicious software or compromised applications. The vulnerability affects the core security architecture of macOS, potentially allowing for data exfiltration, privacy violations, and unauthorized surveillance of user activities. This type of flaw directly impacts user trust in the operating system's ability to protect sensitive information and could enable broader attacks including credential theft or identity compromise.
The fix for CVE-2023-42850 was implemented through enhanced permissions logic in macOS Sonoma 14.1, which strengthens the authorization checks that occur when applications request access to user data. This remediation addresses the root cause by implementing more rigorous validation of application permissions and ensuring that proper access control decisions are made before allowing data access. Organizations should prioritize deployment of macOS Sonoma 14.1 across all affected systems to mitigate this vulnerability. Security teams should monitor for any suspicious application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts and consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting or enhanced monitoring of system access patterns. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1074.001 for data staging and T1566.001 for credential access, emphasizing the importance of proper access control enforcement in preventing unauthorized data access and maintaining system integrity.