Apple OS X Admin Framework XPC Authentication Bypass Local Privilege Escalation (CVE-2015-1130)
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTApple Mac systems running OS X versions prior to 10.10.3
Local users can completely bypass authentication mechanisms and elevate privileges to root/administrator
Immediately upgrade OS X to version 10.10.3 or apply the latest security patches
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
The primary remediation is upgrading the OS X operating system to version 10.10.3 or later. Run the following commands in the terminal to check and apply system updates:
# List available software updates
softwareupdate -l
# Download and install all available updates
sudo softwareupdate -i -a2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If immediate patching is not feasible, restrict local and remote access to the system to minimize the attack surface.
# Disable Remote Login (SSH) to prevent remote local access
sudo systemsetup -setremotelogin off
# Audit the sudoers file to ensure no unauthorized users have administrative privileges
sudo visudo -c3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Use the following commands to verify the current OS X version and inspect system logs for potential exploitation attempts or anomalous XPC activity.
# Check the current OS X version
sw_vers
# Query system logs for anomalies related to the Admin framework or system preferences
log show --predicate 'process == "systempreferences"' --last 24h | grep -i 'failed'Block Kernel Privilege Escalation & Ransomware Payloads Before You Can Reboot
Protect unpatched Windows, Linux, and macOS workloads against in-memory exploitation and lateral movement with autonomous EDR.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability exists within the XPC (Cross-Process Communication) implementation of the Admin Framework in Apple OS X. The Admin Framework utilizes XPC interfaces to communicate with privileged helper tools to perform system administration tasks. However, the framework fails to properly validate the authorization and entitlements of the calling process. This allows a local non-privileged user to send crafted XPC messages directly to privileged services, bypassing authentication checks entirely.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker with local access executes a malicious script or binary that directly interfaces with private XPC services exposed by the Admin Framework (such as writeSystemAdministrationFiles). Because the framework does not strictly verify the code signature or entitlements of the requesting client, it processes the request as if it originated from an authorized administrative utility. This allows the attacker to overwrite critical system files or execute arbitrary code with root privileges.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
As a vulnerability listed in the CISA KEV catalog, this flaw has been actively exploited in the wild. Local Privilege Escalation (LPE) vulnerabilities are highly critical when chained with initial access vectors like phishing or browser exploits. In an enterprise environment, compromise of developer or employee Mac endpoints can lead to lateral movement, credential theft, and potential exposure of sensitive corporate assets and source code.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
The XPC implementation in Admin Framework in Apple OS X before 10.10.3 allows local users to bypass authentication and obtain admin privileges via unspecified vectors.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2015-1130)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2015-1130 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2015-1130 is rated CVSS 7.8 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 9.9%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2015-1130?
Primary impacted vendors include apple across mac_os_x. Scope summary: All Apple OS X versions prior to 10.10.3 (including OS X Yosemite 10.10.2 and earlier)
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2015-1130 before patching?
[Mitigation] Immediately upgrade OS X to version 10.10.3 or apply the latest security patches Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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