Recent findings have unveiled a significant vulnerability in Apple’s macOS that poses serious security risks, especially to organizations relying on these systems. Identified as CVE-2023-32369 and referred to as “Migraine,” this flaw allows malicious actors with root access to circumvent critical security features, enabling unauthorized actions across affected devices.
The primary target of this vulnerability is Apple’s System Integrity Protection (SIP), which imposes strict limitations on the capabilities of the root user concerning protected files and directories. Microsoft’s security researchers highlighted that exploiting this flaw could allow attackers to create files within SIP’s protected domains, effectively rendering them undeletable through conventional methods.
The vulnerability extends beyond mere file creation; it can also permit arbitrary execution of kernel code, creating pathways to sensitive data management systems, including those governing Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) policies. This escalation would grant attackers unprecedented access and control over system functionalities.
The exploitation process leverages macOS’s built-in Migration Assistant. By activating device migration through a crafted AppleScript, attackers can initiate processes capable of executing malicious payloads. The underlying cause lies in the daemon known as systemmigrationd, which possesses the com.apple.rootless.install.heritable entitlement. This grants child processes—such as bash and perl—bypass rights for SIP checks, exposing systems to greater risk.
Once infiltrated, an adversary holding root execution privileges could command systemmigrationd to launch perl scripts during the migration procedure, fostering an environment conducive to executing harmful actions. Such security vulnerabilities underscore the threats to enterprise environments, especially those operating on macOS systems.
Apple addressed this vulnerability in a series of updates released on May 18, 2023, for macOS Ventura 13.4, macOS Monterey 12.6.6, and macOS Big Sur 11.7.7. The company classified CVE-2023-32369 as a logic anomaly that could empower malicious applications to modify protected file system regions.
This incident is not an isolated case; it joins a list of documented macOS bypass vulnerabilities, including Shrootless, powerdir, and Achilles, each laying the groundwork for escalating risks within the macOS ecosystem. The implications of such bypasses significantly heighten the threats posed by malware developers, who may leverage these vulnerabilities to install rootkits, create persistent malware, and broaden their attack vectors.
Furthermore, as Jamf Threat Labs recently disclosed, another serious flaw tagged as ColdInvite (CVE-2023-27930) may allow rogue applications to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, further emphasizing the growing sophistication of cyber threats targeting macOS systems.
For organizations, understanding this vulnerability and its exploitability is critical, aligning with MITRE ATT&CK’s framework. Techniques such as persistence, privilege escalation, and initial access may be relevant to the strategies that adversaries could employ in these attacks. Business owners must prioritize robust cybersecurity measures and regular system updates to mitigate risks associated with emerging vulnerabilities.