CVE-2015-3701

Vulnerability

A buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the Intel Graphics Driver component of Apple OS X prior to version 10.10.4. The issue affects OS X Mavericks v10.9.5, OS X Yosemite v10.10 through v10.10.3, and OS X Yosemite v10.10.4 itself before the update [1]. The vulnerability is triggered via unspecified vectors, meaning the exact code path or required conditions are not disclosed by Apple.

Exploitation

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must have local access to the system and be able to execute code or trigger a malicious operation that interacts with the Intel Graphics Driver. The exact steps are not detailed, but the attack vector is local, requiring no network connectivity or user interaction beyond normal system use. The buffer overflow can be triggered by specially crafted input or operations that cause the driver to write beyond its allocated buffer.

Impact

Successful exploitation allows a local user to gain elevated privileges on the affected system. This means an attacker could gain root-level access or otherwise bypass security restrictions, potentially leading to full system compromise. The impact includes complete loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system, depending on the attacker's actions after privilege escalation.

Mitigation

Apple has addressed this vulnerability in OS X Yosemite v10.10.4, which was released on June 30, 2015 [1]. Users should update to OS X 10.10.4 or later to mitigate the risk. No workarounds are provided. The update is available via the Mac App Store.