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4.7

macOS before 10.11 lets nearby attacker alter firmware via Thunderbolt

CVE-2015-5914 · published 11 years ago
Summary

If someone is physically close to a Mac running macOS version older than 10.11, they could plug in a specially modified Thunderbolt Ethernet adapter and change the computer's low‑level firmware during an update. This could give the attacker control over the machine before it even boots. Update the operating system to macOS 10.11 or later, or avoid using untrusted Thunderbolt devices during firmware updates.

What to do

The CVE record does not list a fixed version. Check the vendor's site or the advisory links below - a fix may already be released.

Affected software
VendorProductAffected versions
apple mac_os_x <= 10.10.5
cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Original advisory text
The EFI component in Apple OS X before 10.11 allows physically proximate attackers to modify firmware during the EFI update process by inserting an Apple Ethernet Thunderbolt adapter with crafted c...
The EFI component in Apple OS X before 10.11 allows physically proximate attackers to modify firmware during the EFI update process by inserting an Apple Ethernet Thunderbolt adapter with crafted code in an Option ROM, aka a "Thunderstrike" issue. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2014-4498.
References
Fix within
Internet-facing 60 days
Internal At next upgrade
  • Not known to be exploited
  • Needs hands-on effort to exploit (estimated)
  • Gives an attacker partial control (estimated)
Severity
4.7 Medium
Exploitation
<1% chance of attack within 30 days
Type
CWE-17DEPRECATED: Code
Timeline
Published9 Oct 2015
Updated4 Nov 2026
First seen29 Sep 2026
Sources
CVE-2015-5914 · NVD
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