CVE-2023-27937 - Integer Overflow Vulnerability Patched in macOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS Systems

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) program has issued CVE-2023-27937, which refers to a discovered integer overflow vulnerability in various Apple operating systems, namely macOS Monterey, Big Sur, and Ventura, as well as iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This vulnerability relates to an improper input validation issue that could be exploited using a maliciously-crafted plist. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could result in arbitrary code execution or an unexpected application termination.

Exploit Details

The vulnerability can be exploited by parsing a maliciously crafted plist file, leading to an integer overflow. The exploit can cause an unexpected app termination or arbitrary code execution, ultimately allowing an attacker to gain control of the affected system.

Consider the following code snippet that demonstrates the integer overflow issue

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdint.h>

int main() {
    uint32_t a = xFFFFFFFF;
    uint32_t b = 2;
    uint64_t result = (uint64_t)a * b;

    printf("Expected: x1FFFFFFFE, Actual: x%llX\n", result);
    return ;
}

In this example, when the 32-bit unsigned integer a is multiplied by the unsigned integer b, an integer overflow occurs. This is because the product is larger than the maximum value that can be represented by a 32-bit unsigned integer.

Original References

CVE-2023-27937 was assigned by the CVE program to keep track of the disclosed issue. For more information on this CVE entry, you can refer to the following link from the CVE database: CVE-2023-27937

For further details regarding the security content of macOS Monterey 12.6.4, macOS Big Sur 11.7.5, macOS Ventura 13.3, tvOS 16.4, watchOS 9.4, iOS 16.4, and iPadOS 16.4, refer to the following references:

- macOS Monterey Release Notes
- macOS Big Sur Release Notes
- macOS Ventura Release Notes
- tvOS Release Notes
- watchOS Release Notes
- iOS Release Notes
- iPadOS Release Notes

Mitigation

Apple has addressed this integer overflow issue by implementing improved input validation in the aforementioned operating systems. Users are advised to update their devices to the latest available version immediately to protect against this vulnerability.

Conclusion

CVE-2023-27937 serves as a critical reminder of the importance of regularly updating your devices and software. By staying informed of potential vulnerabilities and ensuring that you are running the latest patched version of your operating system, you can continue to enjoy a secure computing experience.

Timeline

Published on: 05/08/2023 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 05/19/2023 16:15:00 UTC