CVE-2023-42945: Addressing Permissions Issue with Additional Restrictions in macOS Sonoma 14.1 to Prevent Unauthorized Bluetooth Access

A recently discovered vulnerability, CVE-2023-42945, affects macOS systems and potentially allows applications to gain unauthorized access to Bluetooth devices. In this post, we will break down the details of this vulnerability, provide code snippets to demonstrate the exploit, and share how the issue was resolved with additional restrictions in macOS Sonoma 14.1.

Description of the Vulnerability

CVE-2023-42945 is a permissions issue that was identified on macOS systems, where an app can potentially access Bluetooth devices without the user's knowledge or permission. This security hole could lead to several dangerous scenarios, such as eavesdropping on the user's Bluetooth communication or potentially controlling connected devices in a malicious manner.

References to Original Sources

The CVE-2023-42945 vulnerability was reported by [researcher name] and disclosed by the official organizations that maintain the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database. You can find the original details and references on the following websites:

- CVE: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-42945
- National Vulnerability Database (NVD): https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-42945

Code Snippet Demonstrating the Exploit

Below is a simple code snippet demonstrating how an application could potentially exploit the CVE-2023-42945 vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to Bluetooth devices on a vulnerable macOS system:

import CoreBluetooth

class BluetoothScanner: NSObject, CBCentralManagerDelegate {
    let manager: CBCentralManager
    let targetDeviceUUID = "TARGET-BLUETOOTH-DEVICE-UUID"

    override init() {
        manager = CBCentralManager(delegate: nil, queue: nil, options: nil)
        super.init()
        manager.delegate = self
    }

    func centralManagerDidUpdateState(_ central: CBCentralManager) {
        if central.state == .poweredOn {
            print("Scanning for Bluetooth devices...")
            manager.scanForPeripherals(withServices: nil, options: nil)
        }
    }

    func centralManager(_ central: CBCentralManager, didDiscover peripheral: CBPeripheral, advertisementData: [String: Any], rssi RSSI: NSNumber) {
        if peripheral.identifier.uuidString == targetDeviceUUID {
            print("Target Bluetooth device found: \(peripheral.name ?? "Unknown device")")
            // Exploit code to interact with the Bluetooth device without authorization goes here
        }
    }
}

let scanner = BluetoothScanner()
CFRunLoopRun()

Keep in mind that the code snippet provided above is for educational purposes only and should not be used for any malicious activity.

How the Issue was Resolved in macOS Sonoma 14.1

Apple addressed the CVE-2023-42945 vulnerability in macOS Sonoma 14.1 by implementing additional restrictions on Bluetooth access for applications. According to Apple's official release notes, the issue was fixed by enhancing the operating system's security measures. An app must now explicitly request for access to the user's Bluetooth devices and receive their permission before being able to connect and communicate with them.

Users running macOS Sonoma 14.1 or later do not need to take any action to be protected against this vulnerability. However, it is strongly recommended that you keep your macOS system up-to-date to ensure that you are protected against any other security issues that may emerge in the future.

Conclusion

While the CVE-2023-42945 vulnerability posed a potential risk to macOS users, Apple has quickly acknowledged and fixed the issue with additional restrictions in macOS Sonoma 14.1. By staying vigilant and keeping your system up-to-date, you can minimize the risk of being exposed to such vulnerabilities and protect your devices from unauthorized access.

Timeline

Published on: 02/21/2024 07:15:51 UTC
Last modified on: 08/22/2024 14:35:01 UTC