A recently discovered vulnerability (CVE-2023-27953) within the macOS kernel affects older versions of the operating system, including macOS Ventura 13.2, macOS Monterey 12.6.3, and macOS Big Sur 11.7.4. The issue stems from improper memory handling, which could potentially allow a remote attacker to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory. If successfully exploited, this issue could lead to a denial of service (DoS) or possibly even arbitrary code execution.

Apple has addressed the issue with improved memory handling and has released updates for impacted macOS versions: macOS Ventura 13.3, macOS Monterey 12.6.4, and macOS Big Sur 11.7.5.

Exploit Details

An attacker who exploits the CVE-2023-27953 vulnerability could leverage a maliciously crafted network packet to trigger improper memory handling within the macOS kernel. This manipulation of memory could lead to corruption of kernel memory or cause the system to crash unexpectedly.

Consider the following code snippet that demonstrates the issue

void vulnerable_function(char *input) {
    char buffer[1024];

    // Create a buffer overflow by copying data from the input
    // to the buffer without checking the size first
    strcpy(buffer, input); 
}

int main() {
    // This input is too large for the buffer, leading to potential memory corruption
    char malicious_input[] = "A very long string (over 1024 characters) ...";

    vulnerable_function(malicious_input);

    return ;
}

This code snippet illustrates the vulnerability caused by improper memory handling. When the vulnerable_function is called with the malicious_input, the input is copied into a buffer without verifying its size, which could lead to memory corruption or trigger unexpected behavior.

For more information on CVE-2023-27953, you can refer to the following sources

1. Apple Security Update: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213923
2. CVE-2023-27953 Vulnerability Report: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-27953
3. National Vulnerability Database (NVD) Entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-27953

Mitigation

Users are strongly recommended to update their macOS systems immediately to the latest available version, which includes patches to address the CVE-2023-27953 vulnerability. The affected macOS versions and their corresponding updates are as follows:

Conclusion

The CVE-2023-27953 vulnerability is a critical issue that affects macOS kernel memory handling processes, potentially allowing a remote attacker to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory. It is essential for macOS users to keep their systems up-to-date to stay protected against such vulnerabilities. By upgrading to the latest macOS versions, users can safeguard their systems from potential exploitation and maintain a secure computing environment.

Keep an eye on security bulletins and updates from Apple to stay one step ahead of any emerging threats to your system. Stay safe and secure!

Timeline

Published on: 05/08/2023 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 05/12/2023 18:47:00 UTC