CVE-2023-49313 in XMachOViewer
Summary
by MITRE • 11/28/2023
A dylib injection vulnerability in XMachOViewer 0.04 allows attackers to compromise integrity. By exploiting this, unauthorized code can be injected into the product's processes, potentially leading to remote control and unauthorized access to sensitive user data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2026
The dylib injection vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-49313 affects XMachOViewer version 0.04, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the application. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of dynamic library loading mechanisms within the software's Mach-O file analysis framework. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the dynamic library search path, enabling them to inject malicious code into the application's execution context. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's inability to properly validate and sanitize library loading paths, creating an attack surface where unauthorized code can be seamlessly integrated into the legitimate software process. This represents a fundamental failure in the software's security architecture and demonstrates a lack of proper input validation and secure coding practices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows established patterns for dynamic library injection attacks, where attackers leverage the system's default library search order to load malicious shared libraries instead of the intended legitimate ones. This type of attack aligns with CWE-427 and CWE-428, which specifically address uncontrolled search path modifications and insecure library loading practices. The vulnerability enables attackers to achieve code execution within the context of the XMachOViewer process, potentially allowing for privilege escalation and persistent access to the system. The attack vector typically involves placing a malicious dylib file in a location that will be searched before the legitimate libraries, exploiting the application's trust in the standard library loading mechanism without proper validation of library authenticity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code injection, as it creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent backdoors and exfiltrate sensitive user data. Once compromised, the application can be used as a pivot point for further attacks within the network, potentially leading to unauthorized access to user files, system information, and confidential data. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that XMachOViewer is designed for analyzing system files, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to gain deeper system access. The compromised integrity means that users cannot trust the application's analysis results, as the tool itself may be actively compromised. This creates a significant risk for system administrators and security professionals who rely on such tools for forensic analysis and system monitoring. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-49313 should focus on immediate patching of the XMachOViewer application to version 0.05 or later, which addresses the dynamic library loading vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict library loading policies that enforce the use of absolute paths for dynamic libraries and implement runtime checks to validate library integrity before loading. The application should be configured to use secure library search paths that prioritize system directories over user-controllable locations. Security measures should include monitoring for unauthorized library modifications and implementing application whitelisting controls to prevent execution of untrusted code. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing privilege separation techniques and ensuring that the application runs with minimal required privileges to limit potential damage from successful exploitation. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper library loading mechanisms, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1554 for hijacking execution flow and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage in compromised systems.