CVE-2023-42958 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2024
A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.4. An app may be able to gain elevated privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42958 represents a permissions flaw in macOS Ventura that could potentially allow malicious applications to escalate their privileges beyond intended boundaries. This issue stems from insufficient access controls within the operating system's security framework, creating an avenue for unauthorized elevation of privileges. The flaw specifically affects the macOS Ventura 13.4 operating system and demonstrates a critical weakness in the system's privilege management mechanisms. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, this vulnerability maps to CWE-276, which describes improper permissions and access control issues that can lead to unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and reflects how attackers can leverage system weaknesses to gain elevated system access.
The technical implementation of this permissions flaw likely involves a misconfiguration or oversight in how macOS handles privilege boundaries between user applications and system-level processes. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to execute code with elevated privileges, potentially gaining access to sensitive system functions or data that should normally be restricted to authorized processes only. The vulnerability's nature suggests that an application might be able to bypass normal security checks that would typically prevent it from accessing privileged system resources. This type of issue commonly occurs when the operating system's security model fails to properly validate or enforce access controls, creating a path for privilege escalation attacks. The fix implemented in macOS Ventura 13.4 addresses this by introducing additional restrictions that properly enforce the separation between regular application processes and system-level operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-42958 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it could potentially enable attackers to perform more sophisticated attacks including data exfiltration, system modification, or persistent access to compromised systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially install malicious software, modify system configurations, or access confidential user data without detection. The implications are particularly concerning given that macOS systems are often targeted for their valuable user data and the trust placed in the operating system's security model. This vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against enterprise environments where macOS devices are prevalent, potentially allowing attackers to move laterally within networks or establish persistent backdoors. The risk is compounded by the fact that such privilege escalation vulnerabilities are often used as stepping stones for more extensive compromise operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-42958 center around immediate system updates to macOS Ventura 13.4, which implements the necessary additional restrictions to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation. Organizations should prioritize patch management to ensure all macOS devices are updated with the latest security patches. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict application whitelisting policies, monitoring for suspicious privilege escalation attempts, and conducting regular security audits of system processes. Security teams should also consider deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify anomalous behavior patterns consistent with privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability's resolution demonstrates the importance of continuous security monitoring and timely patch deployment in maintaining operational security. Network administrators should also review and strengthen access control policies to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts, ensuring that even if an attacker gains elevated privileges, their access remains restricted to prevent further damage to the overall system infrastructure.