External risk intelligence

Apple OS Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2023-28206

An out-of-bounds write vulnerability in Apple operating systems allows applications to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. This issue, potentially actively exploited, poses a risk to affected organizations, employees, and systems. Prioritizing remediation is advised to mitigate business risk.

1Halo Surface Signal

Out-of-bounds Write

Apple Ipados

before 15.7.516.0 to before 16.4.1before 11.7.612.0 to before 12.6.513.0 to before 13.3.1

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2023-28206

This vulnerability resides within the operating system kernel and involves local, app-based execution. It is not a network service, web application, or edge-facing component reachable from the internet. It requires an application to be running locally on the device to be triggered, making it inherently local rather than internet-facing.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

An out-of-bounds write vulnerability exists in Apple's operating systems. This flaw allows an application to potentially execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. The issue has been identified as actively exploited.

  • Vulnerable Apple operating systems
  • Input validation failure
  • Arbitrary code execution

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An out-of-bounds write vulnerability has been identified within Apple's operating systems, allowing an application to potentially execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the IOSurfaceAccelerator component. Apple has released security updates to address this issue.

  • Vulnerable operating system components exposed to local applications.
  • Attacker initiates exploitation through a malicious application.
  • Triggering the vulnerability grants the attacker kernel-level control.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability could permit an application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges on affected Apple devices. Apple has indicated that this issue may have been actively exploited in the wild. The potential for an app to gain elevated privileges presents a significant risk. Organizations utilizing these systems should prioritize remediation to mitigate business impact.

  • Attacker skill level: Moderate
  • Required access or conditions: Local application execution
  • Business risk or urgency: High

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability presents a risk of arbitrary code execution with kernel privileges if an application exploits an out-of-bounds write in the IOSurfaceAccelerator. Organizations should prioritize identifying and mitigating affected assets to reduce potential business risk. Swift action can prevent unauthorized access and system compromise.

  • Find affected Apple devices.
  • Reduce exposure or isolate risk.
  • Apply vendor fixes and validate.
  • Monitor for related issues.

Frequently asked questions

What is the IOSurfaceAccelerator in Apple operating systems?

The IOSurfaceAccelerator is a component within Apple's macOS, iOS, and iPadOS that helps manage and process graphical data. It plays a role in how the operating system handles visual elements and displays information on devices. This advisory indicates a vulnerability within this specific component.

How does CVE-2023-28206 allow for privilege escalation?

CVE-2023-28206 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability. This means that an application can write data beyond the intended memory buffer. In this case, it can be exploited by an application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, essentially giving it elevated system control.

What conditions are needed to trigger this Apple OS vulnerability?

To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker would need to run a malicious application on the affected Apple device. The vulnerability is not triggered by simply accessing a website or a network service; it requires a locally installed application to initiate the exploit.

Who should be concerned about this Apple OS vulnerability?

Anyone running affected versions of macOS, iOS, or iPadOS should be concerned. While the vulnerability requires local app execution and is classified as internal, any organization with Apple devices used for business purposes needs to address this to prevent potential compromise.

What is the first step to respond to this CVE threat advisory?

The primary first step is to identify all affected Apple devices within your environment. Once identified, applying the vendor-provided security updates for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS is critical to patching this vulnerability and mitigating the risk.

References