A significant security flaw, designated as CVE-2024-44236, has been identified in Apple’s macOS operating system. This vulnerability, with a Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score of 7.8, enables attackers to execute arbitrary code by persuading users to open specially crafted files. The issue was discovered by Hossein Lotfi of Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative and was addressed by Apple in updates released on October 28, 2024, for macOS Ventura 13.7.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1.
Technical Details of CVE-2024-44236
The vulnerability resides in the parsing of International Color Consortium (ICC) profiles within macOS’s Scriptable Image Processing System (sips). Sips is a built-in terminal utility that allows users to view, edit, and process image files. The flaw is an out-of-bounds write issue affecting the handling of lutAToBType and lutBToAType tag types in ICC Profile files. These profiles, which characterize color input/output devices or color spaces, consist of a Header, Tag Table, and tagged element data.
The core of the vulnerability lies in the function sub_1000194D0(), which processes these structures. The critical issue occurs when handling the Offset to CLUT field value. If an attacker sets this offset equal to the total length of the tagged element data, the function will read and potentially modify memory up to 16 bytes beyond the end of the heap-allocated buffer. This improper validation can lead to unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.
Exploitation and Impact
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to craft a malicious ICC Profile file and convince a user to process it. This could be achieved through various attack vectors, including email attachments, malicious websites, or compromised file-sharing services. The vulnerability could be delivered through multiple channels, including FTP, HTTP, HTTPS, IMAP, NFS, POP3, SMB/CIFS, and SMTP protocols.
The vulnerability has been assigned a vector string of AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating that while user interaction is required, an attacker needs no special privileges to execute code with potentially high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Mitigation Measures
Apple has addressed this vulnerability by improving bounds checking in the affected function. Users are strongly encouraged to update their systems to the latest versions of macOS to protect against potential exploitation. As of the publication date, no attacks exploiting this vulnerability have been detected in the wild. However, given the detailed technical information now available, it’s crucial for all macOS users to apply the security updates promptly.
Broader Context and Recommendations
This discovery underscores the continuing importance of vulnerability research in identifying and addressing potential security threats before malicious actors can exploit them. It also highlights the need for users to remain vigilant and proactive in maintaining their system security. Regularly updating software, being cautious with unsolicited files or links, and employing comprehensive security solutions are essential practices to mitigate the risk of such vulnerabilities.
In conclusion, while the prompt response from Apple in patching CVE-2024-44236 is commendable, it serves as a reminder of the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats. Users must stay informed and take necessary precautions to safeguard their systems against potential exploits.
