CVE-2002-1266 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Mac OS X 10.2.2 allows local users to gain privileges by mounting a disk image file that was created on another system, aka "Local User Privilege Elevation via Disk Image File."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1266 represents a significant local privilege escalation flaw in Mac OS X 10.2.2 that exploits the disk image mounting mechanism to allow unauthorized users to elevate their privileges. This issue stems from improper handling of disk image files created on different systems, specifically when these images are mounted by users with lower privileges. The vulnerability operates through a combination of file system permissions and disk image mounting behaviors that fail to properly validate the security context of the mounted content. The flaw exists in the system's disk image handling subsystem where the operating system does not adequately verify the integrity and security attributes of disk images when they are mounted, particularly those created on external systems or by different user contexts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of disk image files that contain malicious or specially crafted metadata that, when processed during the mounting operation, results in privilege escalation. When a local user mounts a disk image file that was created on another system, the system's mounting process fails to properly sanitize the image's metadata or execute appropriate security checks. This allows the mounted image to potentially execute code with elevated privileges or modify system resources that should be restricted to administrators only. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the legitimate disk image mounting functionality of the operating system to achieve unauthorized access, making detection more difficult. This type of flaw falls under the category of improper privilege handling and security context validation, aligning with CWE-276 which addresses improper privileges and CWE-732 which covers incorrect permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with a persistent method of gaining elevated access to the system. Once a local user successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can potentially access sensitive system files, modify system configurations, install malicious software, or establish backdoors. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it requires minimal privileges to initiate and can be executed through normal user activities such as mounting disk images. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where different users may have varying levels of access. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that users can easily obtain or create disk image files that trigger the flaw, making it a common target for attackers seeking to escalate their access privileges. The vulnerability can be exploited through various disk image formats including those created by the system's built-in disk utility or third-party tools that may not properly validate their output.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1266 should focus on implementing proper disk image validation and privilege separation mechanisms within the operating system. System administrators should ensure that all Mac OS X systems are updated to the latest available patches that address this specific vulnerability, as Apple would have implemented fixes to properly validate disk image metadata during mounting operations. The recommended approach includes implementing strict disk image validation policies that prevent mounting of images created by unknown or untrusted sources, particularly those that may contain malicious metadata. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing access controls that limit the ability of local users to mount arbitrary disk images, especially those that could potentially be created or modified by other users on the system. The solution should incorporate proper privilege separation where disk image mounting operations are performed with minimal required privileges, preventing escalation to administrator levels. This aligns with the principle of least privilege and follows security best practices outlined in various security frameworks including those related to the ATT&CK framework where privilege escalation techniques are categorized and mitigated through proper system hardening and access control implementations.