CVE-2023-38590 - Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Apple's Operating Systems

A security vulnerability in Apple's operating systems, catalogued as CVE-2023-38590, allows malicious actors to exploit a buffer overflow issue leading to unexpected system termination or corruption of kernel memory. Thanks to vigilant developers, the problem has now been fixed in the following releases: watchOS 9.6, macOS Big Sur 11.7.9, iOS 15.7.8 and iPadOS 15.7.8, macOS Monterey 12.6.8, tvOS 16.6, iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6, macOS Ventura 13.5.

This long read post will provide an in-depth analysis of the exploit, including how it works, a sample code snippet to demonstrate its effects, and references to the original sources. In addition, we'll discuss preventive measures and ways to protect your systems from this vulnerability.

Here's a snippet of code that illustrates the buffer overflow issue

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

void vulnerableFunction(const char *input) {
    char buffer[256];
    strcpy(buffer, input);
}

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
    if (argc < 2) {
        printf("Usage: %s <input_string>\n", argv[]);
        return 1;
    }
    vulnerableFunction(argv[1]);
    printf("Executed successfully.\n");
    return ;
}

In the above example, the vulnerableFunction copies the input string provided by the user into a 256-byte buffer. However, if the input string is more than the allocated buffer size, a buffer overflow will occur.

Exploit Details

A remote malicious actor can exploit this buffer overflow vulnerability by executing a code injection attack. An attacker may send a specially crafted input string longer than the buffer size, leading to unexpected system termination and corruption of kernel memory. This may ultimately allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code or gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.

To illustrate how this vulnerability can be exploited, let's consider the following scenario

1. An attacker sends a payload that overflows the buffer: ./vulnerable_program "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBCCCCCCCCCCCC"

The payload is processed by the vulnerableFunction, and the buffer overflows.

3. The buffer overflow overwrites the return address on the stack, causing an unexpected jump in the program's execution flow.
4. The attacker's code is now executed, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or compromise of sensitive information.

For more details about this vulnerability and preventive measures, refer to these original sources

1. Apple's Security Updates - The official page containing information about security updates and fixes issued by Apple.
2. CVE-2023-38590 - NVD Entry - The National Vulnerability Database (NVD) entry detailing the specifics of the vulnerability.

Preventive Measures

Apple has taken steps to resolve the buffer overflow vulnerability in its operating systems. As a user, it is crucial to keep your devices up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates. Ensure that your Apple devices are running the following versions, where the issue has been fixed:

Conclusion

Buffer overflow vulnerabilities, like the one described in CVE-2023-38590, have the potential to cause significant harm to users and their systems. By staying vigilant and applying the latest security patches, individuals and organizations can protect their devices and prevent potential incidents.

Stay safe, and always keep your systems up-to-date to minimize the risk of being affected by similar vulnerabilities.

Timeline

Published on: 07/28/2023 05:15:10 UTC
Last modified on: 08/03/2023 16:55:34 UTC