All known versions of the Netgear Genie Installer for macOS contain a local privilege escalation vulnerability. The installer of the macOS version of Netgear Genie handles certain files in an insecure way. A malicious actor who has local access to the endpoint on which the software is going to be installed may overwrite certain files to obtain privilege escalation to root.
Netgear Genie Installer for macOS suffers from a critical local privilege escalation vulnerability, allowing attackers with local access to gain root privileges. This flaw stems from insecure file handling during the installation process, enabling attackers to overwrite critical system files. Successful exploitation grants complete control over the compromised system.
Step 1: Local Access: The attacker gains local access to the target macOS endpoint. This could be through physical access, social engineering, or a previously compromised account with limited privileges.
Step 2: File Preparation: The attacker identifies the files that the Netgear Genie installer will create or overwrite during installation. This requires reverse engineering of the installer or examining installation logs.
Step 3: Payload Placement: The attacker places malicious files or symbolic links in a location where the installer will interact with them. This could involve creating files with specific names or placing symbolic links to point to sensitive system files.
Step 4: Installation Trigger: The attacker initiates the Netgear Genie installation process.
Step 5: File Overwrite: During installation, the installer attempts to write to the attacker-controlled files or follows the symbolic links, overwriting critical system files with attacker-controlled content.
Step 6: Privilege Escalation: The overwritten files are used by the system, leading to the execution of attacker-controlled code with root privileges. This grants the attacker full control over the system.
The vulnerability lies within the Netgear Genie Installer for macOS, specifically in how it handles file operations during the installation process. The installer likely uses a privileged process to install the software. The root cause is an insecure file handling mechanism. The installer probably copies or creates files without proper validation or access control checks. This allows a local attacker to predict or control the location and content of files written by the installer. By strategically placing malicious files or symbolic links, the attacker can overwrite critical system files, such as those used for launching applications or setting up system configurations. This leads to privilege escalation because the installer runs with elevated privileges (root), and any files it writes inherit those privileges. The attacker leverages this to execute arbitrary code with root privileges.