CVE-2002-1268 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Mac OS X 10.2.2 allows local users to gain privileges via a mounted ISO 9600 CD, aka "User Privilege Elevation via Mounting an ISO 9600 CD."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2019
This vulnerability in Mac OS X 10.2.2 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that allows local attackers to elevate their system privileges through improper handling of mounted ISO 9600 CD images. The issue stems from how the operating system processes filesystem mounts, specifically when mounting ISO 9600 formatted CD images. When a user mounts such an image, the system fails to properly validate or restrict the permissions associated with the mounted filesystem, creating an opportunity for unauthorized privilege elevation. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management, where the system does not adequately enforce access controls during filesystem operations. The flaw operates at the kernel level where filesystem mounting routines lack proper validation of the mounted image's metadata and associated permissions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the way Mac OS X handles mounted filesystems by not properly sanitizing the permissions and capabilities that can be inherited from mounted ISO 9600 images. When an ISO 9600 CD is mounted, the system should enforce strict access controls to prevent privilege escalation, but instead allows certain metadata or filesystem attributes to propagate with elevated privileges. This creates a path where a local attacker can mount a specially crafted ISO 9600 image that contains malicious filesystem attributes or permissions that persist in the mounted environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction beyond the act of mounting a CD image, making it a low-effort attack vector with high impact. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 Privilege Escalation, where adversaries leverage system-level flaws to gain elevated access rights.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to gain root access to the system, modify critical system files, install persistent backdoors, or access sensitive user data. Once elevated, attackers can bypass normal security controls and perform actions that would otherwise be restricted to administrative users. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where multiple users may have local access to systems and where the assumption of least privilege is critical for maintaining security boundaries. The vulnerability affects the core filesystem management functionality of Mac OS X, making it a fundamental weakness in the operating system's security architecture that could be exploited across various attack scenarios. Organizations running Mac OS X 10.2.2 should implement immediate mitigations including system updates, filesystem access restrictions, and monitoring for unauthorized mount operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and privilege management in filesystem handling code, particularly when dealing with external media and third-party mounted filesystems.