Full Report
In the past few years I created some twitter threads (e.g. Windows Kernel Security Linux Kernel Security) on a number of publications I found the most interesting within the vulnerability research space, this didn’t really give me that much space to actually provide detail or allow this to be stored within a format which is easily accessible and I could refer back too. Therefore this years vulnerability research digest is going to be on my blog too.
Analysis Summary
This summary focuses on the specific vulnerabilities detailed within the provided text, drawn from presentations covering macOS/iOS kernel security research findings from 2022.
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# Vulnerability: Chained Exploits against Apple Neural Engine (ANE)
## CVE Details
- CVE ID: Not explicitly listed for ANE findings in this section, but multiple vulnerabilities were found.
- CVSS Score: N/A
- CWE: Various (OOB write, integer overflow, improper index validation, signature check bypass)
## Affected Systems
- Products: Apple Silicon devices utilizing the Apple Neural Engine (ANE).
- Versions: Not specified, related to ANE architecture components.
- Configurations: Interfacing with the ANE via frameworks, tooling, and IPC mechanisms.
## Vulnerability Description
Research by simo36 identified multiple vulnerabilities within the Apple Neural Engine (ANE) architecture, spanning from userland interfaces through the kernel interface to the ANE firmware. These issues included Out-Of-Bounds (OOB) write, integer overflow, improper index validation, and signature check bypasses. These flaws were chained together to build an arbitrary read/write (r/w) primitive.
## Exploitation
- Status: PoC available (Implied, as an exploit was released by the researcher).
- Complexity: High (Requires chaining 4 different vulnerabilities).
- Attack Vector: Local/Kernel interaction via ANE interfacing utilities.
## Impact
- Confidentiality: High (If the arbitrary r/w primitive is fully realized in the kernel).
- Integrity: High (If the arbitrary r/w primitive is fully realized in the kernel).
- Availability: Undetermined
## Remediation
### Patches
- Specific patches for these ANE vulnerabilities are not detailed in relation to specific CVEs within this section.
### Workarounds
- Not specified.
## Detection
- No specific IOCs mentioned for the ANE chain, but monitoring for unusual ANE driver/firmware interaction might be relevant.
## References
- ANE POC Details: hxxps://github.com/0x36/weightBufs/blob/main/attacking_ane_poc2022.pdf
- ANE Exploit Release: hxxps://github.com/0x36/weightBufs
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# Vulnerability: IOMobileFramebuffer / DCP Kernel Vulnerabilities (2021)
## CVE Details
- CVE ID: CVE-2021-30883, CVE-2021-309XX (Multiple), CVE-2021-30937
- CVSS Score: N/A
- CWE: Integer Overflow (for 30883), UAF (for 30937)
## Affected Systems
- Products: macOS/iOS devices running affected versions.
- Versions: Specific versions mentioned in relation to CVE-2021-309XX exploitation up until iOS 15.2 beta 3.
- Configurations: Issues related to IOMobileFramebuffer interaction, particularly the `set_block` selector, and XNU kernel networking paths (`setsockopt`).
## Vulnerability Description
1. **CVE-2021-30883 & CVE-2021-309XX:** Flaws in `IOMobileFramebuffer`, often related to the `set_block` selector, leading to heap overflows due to integer overflow. These bugs were noted as existing primarily in the Display Co-Processor (DCP) firmware wrapper logic, not purely the kernel code.
2. **CVE-2021-30937:** A race condition in XNU's `setsockopt` implementation involving improper locking, leading to a Use-After-Free (UAF).
## Exploitation
- Status: PoC available/discussed for CVE-2021-30883 (via IOSurfaceClient technique) and CVE-2021-30937 (via `multicast_bytecopy`).
- Complexity: Medium to High (Requires exploiting racing conditions or chaining primitives).
- Attack Vector: Local (Kernel exploitation).
## Impact
- Confidentiality: High (Leads to Kernel r/w primitives).
- Integrity: High (Achieving kernel R/W primitives).
- Availability: High (Potential for panic/crash).
## Remediation
### Patches
- Patches are implicitly available as these CVEs were disclosed/discussed in late 2021/early 2022 context, though the exact patch version is not listed.
### Workarounds
- Not specified.
## Detection
- Analysis of `IOMobileFramebuffer` driver calls, specifically related to the `set_block` selector.
- Monitoring networking stacks for anomalies related to `setsockopt` if locking mechanisms are suspected to be bypassed.
## References
- Zer0con Talk: Tales from the iOS/macOS Kernel Trenches
- CVE-2021-30883 PoC: hxxps://saaramar.github.io/IOMFB_integer_overflow_poc/
- CVE-2021-30937 PoC: hxxps://github.com/potmdehex/multicast_bytecopy
- CVE-2021-30937 Project Zero tracking: hxxps://bugs.chromium.org/p/project-zero/issues/detail?id=2224
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# Vulnerability: XNU Type Confusion (Mach IPC)
## CVE Details
- CVE ID: Not explicitly listed (Referenced via Project Zero Issue 2107).
- CVSS Score: N/A
- CWE: Type Confusion
## Affected Systems
- Products: macOS/iOS (XNU Kernel).
- Versions: Undefined, related to Mach IPC turnstiles implementation.
- Configurations: Involving Mach IPC mechanisms, specifically how `host_notify_entry` is handled versus `ipc_port`.
## Vulnerability Description
A type confusion vulnerability within the XNU kernel's turnstile mechanism, where the kernel mistakenly treats a `plaintext host_notify_entry` structure as a more privileged `plaintext ipc_port` structure, leading to potential memory corruption or privilege escalation.
## Exploitation
- Status: Discussed as a case study; likely had PoC or active exploitation discussed historically by Project Zero.
- Complexity: High
- Attack Vector: Local (Kernel interaction)
## Impact
- Confidentiality/Integrity/Availability: High (If successfully exploited to gain kernel privileges).
## Remediation
### Patches
- Patches are not detailed, but related to XNU kernel fixes for Mach IPC handling.
### Workarounds
- Not specified.
## Detection
- Monitoring for anomalous kernel object type casting or manipulation within IPC handling routines.
## References
- Case Study Source: Trekking Slides (MOSEC 2022)