CVE-2024-40770 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2024
A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15. A non-privileged user may be able to modify restricted network settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical permissions flaw in macOS Sequoia 15 that allows non-privileged users to escalate their privileges and modify restricted network settings. The issue stems from insufficient access controls within the operating system's network management subsystem, where proper authorization checks fail to prevent unauthorized modifications to network configurations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-276 as improper privilege management, specifically involving inadequate access control mechanisms for network administration functions. Attackers exploiting this flaw could potentially alter firewall rules, modify network interface configurations, or manipulate routing tables without requiring administrator credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the operating system's mandatory access control policies, where standard user accounts should be restricted from performing network configuration changes. This permission bypass occurs at the kernel level or system framework level where network management APIs do not properly validate user credentials against the required administrative privileges. The flaw essentially creates a path for privilege escalation through network configuration interfaces that should only be accessible to users with appropriate administrative rights. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves privilege escalation through system binary modification or access control bypasses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized network modifications, as it provides attackers with potential pathways for further system compromise and lateral movement within network environments. An attacker who gains access to a standard user account could use this vulnerability to establish persistent network access points, redirect traffic through malicious proxies, or disable security features that protect against network-based attacks. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where network segmentation and access controls are critical for maintaining security boundaries. Organizations may experience unauthorized network access, data exfiltration through modified network routes, or potential compromise of network monitoring systems that depend on proper network configuration integrity.
Organizations should immediately implement the available security patches for macOS Sequoia 15 to address this vulnerability, as the issue affects all systems running the affected operating system version. System administrators should conduct comprehensive network audits to identify any unauthorized changes that may have occurred during the vulnerability window, particularly focusing on firewall rules, network interface modifications, and routing table changes. Additional mitigations include implementing network access control lists, monitoring network configuration changes through centralized logging systems, and enforcing strict user access policies that limit standard user accounts from making network modifications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date operating system versions and implementing proper security monitoring to detect unauthorized system changes. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation strategies and privileged access management solutions to reduce the potential impact of such privilege escalation vulnerabilities.