CVE-2018-6336 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been found in osquery that allows a specially crafted Universal/fat binary to bypass third-party code signing checks, potentially executing unsigned malicious code.

Understanding CVE-2018-6336

What is CVE-2018-6336?

This CVE identifies a security flaw in osquery versions prior to v3.2.7, enabling a Universal/fat binary to evade code signing checks, leading users to execute unsigned malicious code.

The Impact of CVE-2018-6336

This vulnerability poses a significant risk as it can deceive users into running unsigned code, potentially leading to unauthorized access or malicious activities.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6336

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in osquery allows a specially crafted Universal/fat binary to trick users into executing unsigned code, bypassing code signing checks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: osquery
Vendor: Facebook
Affected Versions:
3.2.7
Versions less than 3.2.7 (unspecified/custom)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability exploits the lack of thorough examination of Universal/fat binaries, leading users to believe the code is signed by Apple when, in reality, it is unsigned and potentially malicious.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update osquery to version 3.2.7 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Exercise caution when running third-party binaries to avoid executing unsigned code.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict code signing verification processes.
Regularly monitor and update software to address security vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by osquery to ensure the security of the system.