// For flags

CVE-2019-8606

Apple macOS kextutil Race Condition Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Severity Score

7.0
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

-
*SSVC
Descriptions

A validation issue existed in the handling of symlinks. This issue was addressed with improved validation of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Mojave 10.14.5. A local user may be able to load unsigned kernel extensions.

Se presentó un problema de comprobación en el manejo de enlaces simbólicos. Este problema fue abordado con una comprobación mejorada de los enlaces simbólicos. Este problema es corregido en macOS Mojave versión 10.14.5. Un usuario local puede ser capaz de cargar extensiones del kernel sin firmar.

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on vulnerable installations of Apple macOS. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the handling of kernel extensions in kextutil. The issue results from the lack of proper locking when performing operations on an object. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code as the kernel.

*Credits: phoenhex & qwerty team (@_niklasb @qwertyoruiopz and @bkth_)
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Medium
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Complete
Integrity
Complete
Availability
Complete
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:-
Exploitation
-
Automatable
-
Tech. Impact
-
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2019-02-18 CVE Reserved
  • 2019-05-30 CVE Published
  • 2023-03-08 EPSS Updated
  • 2024-08-04 CVE Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-362: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
CAPEC
References (1)
URL Tag Source
URL Date SRC
URL Date SRC
URL Date SRC
https://support.apple.com/HT210119 2019-12-23
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Apple
Search vendor "Apple"
Mac Os X
Search vendor "Apple" for product "Mac Os X"
< 10.14.5
Search vendor "Apple" for product "Mac Os X" and version " < 10.14.5"
-
Affected