Vulnerabilities > CVE-2019-8540 - Improper Initialization vulnerability in Apple products

047910
CVSS 5.5 - MEDIUM
Attack vector
LOCAL
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
HIGH
Integrity impact
NONE
Availability impact
NONE
local
low complexity
apple
CWE-665
nessus
NVD
Published: 2019-12-18
Updated: 2024-11-21

Summary

A memory initialization issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 12.2, macOS Mojave 10.14.4, tvOS 12.2, watchOS 5.2. A malicious application may be able to determine kernel memory layout.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
OS
Apple
448

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Leveraging Race Conditions
    This attack targets a race condition occurring when multiple processes access and manipulate the same resource concurrently and the outcome of the execution depends on the particular order in which the access takes place. The attacker can leverage a race condition by "running the race", modifying the resource and modifying the normal execution flow. For instance a race condition can occur while accessing a file, the attacker can trick the system by replacing the original file with his version and cause the system to read the malicious file.
  • Leveraging Time-of-Check and Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) Race Conditions
    This attack targets a race condition occurring between the time of check (state) for a resource and the time of use of a resource. The typical example is the file access. The attacker can leverage a file access race condition by "running the race", meaning that he would modify the resource between the first time the target program accesses the file and the time the target program uses the file. During that period of time, the attacker could do something such as replace the file and cause an escalation of privilege.

Nessus

  • NASL familyMacOS X Local Security Checks
    NASL idMACOS_10_14_4.NASL
    descriptionThe remote host is running a version of macOS / Mac OS X that is 10.14.x prior to 10.14.4. It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities, including: - Mounting a maliciously crafted NFS network share may lead to arbitrary code execution with system privileges. (CVE-2019-8508) - An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. (CVE-2019-8529) - A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with system privileges (CVE-2019-8549)
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id123128
    published2019-03-27
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2019-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/123128
    titlemacOS 10.14.x < 10.14.4 Multiple Vulnerabilities
    code
    #
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(123128);
  script_version("1.7");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2020/01/31");

  script_cve_id(
    "CVE-2018-12015",
    "CVE-2018-18311",
    "CVE-2018-18313",
    "CVE-2019-6207",
    "CVE-2019-6237",
    "CVE-2019-6239",
    "CVE-2019-7293",
    "CVE-2019-8502",
    "CVE-2019-8504",
    "CVE-2019-8507",
    "CVE-2019-8508",
    "CVE-2019-8510",
    "CVE-2019-8511",
    "CVE-2019-8513",
    "CVE-2019-8514",
    "CVE-2019-8516",
    "CVE-2019-8517",
    "CVE-2019-8519",
    "CVE-2019-8520",
    "CVE-2019-8521",
    "CVE-2019-8522",
    "CVE-2019-8526",
    "CVE-2019-8527",
    "CVE-2019-8529",
    "CVE-2019-8530",
    "CVE-2019-8533",
    "CVE-2019-8537",
    "CVE-2019-8540",
    "CVE-2019-8542",
    "CVE-2019-8545",
    "CVE-2019-8546",
    "CVE-2019-8549",
    "CVE-2019-8550",
    "CVE-2019-8552",
    "CVE-2019-8555",
    "CVE-2019-8561",
    "CVE-2019-8565"
  );
  script_bugtraq_id(104423, 106072, 106145);
  script_xref(name:"APPLE-SA", value:"APPLE-SA-2019-3-25-2");

  script_name(english:"macOS 10.14.x < 10.14.4 Multiple Vulnerabilities");
  script_summary(english:"Checks the version of Mac OS X / macOS.");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The remote host is missing a macOS update that fixes multiple security
vulnerabilities.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The remote host is running a version of macOS / Mac OS X that is
10.14.x prior to 10.14.4. It is, therefore, affected by multiple
vulnerabilities, including:

  - Mounting a maliciously crafted NFS network share may lead to
    arbitrary code execution with system privileges. (CVE-2019-8508)

  - An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel
    privileges. (CVE-2019-8529)

  - A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code
    with system privileges (CVE-2019-8549)");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209600");
  # https://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2019/Mar/msg00001.html
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?71533e9d");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Upgrade to macOS version 10.14.4 or later.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:C/A:C");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:F/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:F/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2019-8527");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"metasploit_name", value:'Mac OS X Feedback Assistant Race Condition');
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_framework_metasploit", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2019/03/25");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2019/03/25");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2019/03/27");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"combined");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:apple:mac_os_x");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:apple:macos");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"MacOS X Local Security Checks");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2019-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl", "os_fingerprint.nasl");
  script_require_ports("Host/MacOSX/Version", "Host/OS");

  exit(0);
}

include("audit.inc");
include("global_settings.inc");
include("misc_func.inc");


fix = "10.14.4";
minver = "10.14";

os = get_kb_item("Host/MacOSX/Version");
if (!os)
{
  os = get_kb_item_or_exit("Host/OS");
  if ("Mac OS X" >!< os) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "macOS / Mac OS X");

  c = get_kb_item("Host/OS/Confidence");
  if (c <= 70) exit(1, "Can't determine the host's OS with sufficient confidence.");
}
if (!os) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "macOS / Mac OS X");

matches = pregmatch(pattern:"Mac OS X ([0-9]+(\.[0-9]+)+)", string:os);
if (empty_or_null(matches)) exit(1, "Failed to parse the macOS / Mac OS X version ('" + os + "').");

version = matches[1];

if (ver_compare(ver:version, minver:minver, fix:fix, strict:FALSE) == -1)
{
  security_report_v4(
    port:0,
    severity:SECURITY_HOLE,
    extra:
      '\n  Installed version : ' + version +
      '\n  Fixed version     : ' + fix +
      '\n'
  );
}
else audit(AUDIT_INST_VER_NOT_VULN, "macOS / Mac OS X", version);
  • NASL familyMacOS X Local Security Checks
    NASL idMACOS_SECUPD_10_12_6_2019-002.NASL
    descriptionThe remote host is running Mac OS X 10.12.6 and is missing a security update. It is therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities including: - A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. (CVE-2019-8555) - A malicious application may be able to determine kernel memory layout. (CVE-2019-6207, CVE-2019-8510) - A malicious application may be able to read restricted memory. (CVE-2019-8520) - 802.1X - DiskArbitration - Feedback Assistant - IOKit - IOKit SCSI - Kernel - PackageKit - Perl - Security - Time Machine - Wi-Fi
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id123129
    published2019-03-27
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2019-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/123129
    titlemacOS and Mac OS X Multiple Vulnerabilities (Security Update 2019-002)
    code
    #
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(123129);
  script_version("1.8");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2020/01/31");

  script_cve_id(
    "CVE-2018-12015",
    "CVE-2018-18311",
    "CVE-2018-18313",
    "CVE-2019-6207",
    "CVE-2019-8508",
    "CVE-2019-8510",
    "CVE-2019-8513",
    "CVE-2019-8520",
    "CVE-2019-8521",
    "CVE-2019-8522",
    "CVE-2019-8526",
    "CVE-2019-8527",
    "CVE-2019-8530",
    "CVE-2019-8540",
    "CVE-2019-8555",
    "CVE-2019-8561",
    "CVE-2019-8564"
  );
  script_bugtraq_id(104423, 106072, 106145);
  script_xref(name:"APPLE-SA", value:"APPLE-SA-2019-3-25-2");

  script_name(english:"macOS and Mac OS X Multiple Vulnerabilities (Security Update 2019-002)");
  script_summary(english:"Checks for the presence of Security Update 2019-002.");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The remote host is missing a macOS or Mac OS X security update that
fixes multiple vulnerabilities.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The remote host is running Mac OS X 10.12.6 and is missing a security
update. It is therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities
including:

  - A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code
    with kernel privileges. (CVE-2019-8555)

  - A malicious application may be able to determine kernel memory
    layout. (CVE-2019-6207, CVE-2019-8510)

  - A malicious application may be able to read restricted memory.
    (CVE-2019-8520)

  - 802.1X
  - DiskArbitration
  - Feedback Assistant
  - IOKit
  - IOKit SCSI
  - Kernel
  - PackageKit
  - Perl
  - Security
  - Time Machine
  - Wi-Fi");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209600");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209635");
  # https://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2019/Mar/msg00001.html
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?71533e9d");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Install Security Update 2019-002 or later for 10.12.x.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:C/A:C");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:F/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:F/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2019-8527");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"metasploit_name", value:'Mac OS X TimeMachine (tmdiagnose) Command Injection Privilege Escalation');
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_framework_metasploit", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2019/03/25");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2019/03/25");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2019/03/27");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:apple:mac_os_x");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:apple:macos");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"MacOS X Local Security Checks");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2019-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/MacOSX/Version", "Host/MacOSX/packages/boms");

  exit(0);
}

include("audit.inc");
include("global_settings.inc");
include("misc_func.inc");

# Compare 2 patch numbers to determine if patch requirements are satisfied.
# Return true if this patch or a later patch is applied
# Return false otherwise
function check_patch(year, number)
{
  local_var p_split = split(patch, sep:"-");
  local_var p_year  = int( p_split[0]);
  local_var p_num   = int( p_split[1]);

  if (year >  p_year) return TRUE;
  else if (year <  p_year) return FALSE;
  else if (number >=  p_num) return TRUE;
  else return FALSE;
}

get_kb_item_or_exit("Host/local_checks_enabled");
os = get_kb_item_or_exit("Host/MacOSX/Version");

if (!preg(pattern:"Mac OS X 10\.12\.6([^0-9]|$)", string:os))
  audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Mac OS X 10.12.6");

patch = "2019-002";

packages = get_kb_item_or_exit("Host/MacOSX/packages/boms", exit_code:1);
sec_boms_report = pgrep(
  pattern:"^com\.apple\.pkg\.update\.(security\.|os\.SecUpd).*bom$",
  string:packages
);
sec_boms = split(sec_boms_report, sep:'\n');

foreach package (sec_boms)
{
  # Grab patch year and number
  matches = pregmatch(pattern:"[^0-9](20[0-9][0-9])[-.]([0-9]{3})[^0-9]", string:package);
  if (empty_or_null(matches)) continue;
  if (empty_or_null(matches[1]) || empty_or_null(matches[2]))
    continue;

  patch_found = check_patch(year:int(matches[1]), number:int(matches[2]));
  if (patch_found) exit(0, "The host has Security Update " + patch + " or later installed and is therefore not affected.");
}

report =  '\n  Missing security update : ' + patch;
report += '\n  Installed security BOMs : ';
if (sec_boms_report) report += str_replace(find:'\n', replace:'\n                            ', string:sec_boms_report);
else report += 'n/a';
report += '\n';

security_report_v4(port:0, severity:SECURITY_HOLE, extra:report);

References