CVE-2004-0168 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in CoreFoundation for Mac OS X 10.3.2, related to "notification logging."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0168 resides within CoreFoundation, Apple's foundational framework for Mac OS X 10.3.2, specifically concerning notification logging mechanisms. This issue represents a security weakness that could potentially be exploited to compromise system integrity through improper handling of notification events. CoreFoundation serves as a critical component in the Mac OS X operating system, providing essential services for application development and system operations. The notification logging subsystem within this framework is responsible for managing and processing system notifications, which are fundamental to the operating system's event-driven architecture. When examining this vulnerability through the lens of cybersecurity standards, it aligns with CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in memory handling and buffer management, particularly when dealing with notification processing and logging functions. The flaw manifests in how the system handles notification messages, potentially allowing for memory corruption or unauthorized access to system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking and memory management within CoreFoundation's notification logging routines. When the system processes notification events, it fails to properly validate the size and content of incoming notification data, creating potential avenues for buffer overflows or memory corruption. This weakness is particularly concerning because CoreFoundation operates at a low level within the operating system, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks. The notification logging functionality typically handles messages from various system components and applications, making it a critical pathway for information flow within the system. Attackers could potentially craft malicious notification data that, when processed by the vulnerable CoreFoundation component, could lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability's exploitation requires understanding of the notification system's internal workings and the ability to manipulate notification data in ways that trigger the flawed memory handling code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability, potentially allowing for complete system compromise. When exploited successfully, this flaw could enable attackers to execute malicious code with system privileges, effectively bypassing standard security controls. The notification logging subsystem's role in system-wide communication makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as it could be leveraged to affect multiple system components simultaneously. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability represents an opportunity to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources, potentially leading to data theft, system takeover, or persistent access. The vulnerability's presence in Mac OS X 10.3.2 means that systems running this version were particularly susceptible, as the notification logging mechanism was not adequately secured against malformed input. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as exploitation could involve crafting malicious notifications to trigger system commands. The impact on enterprise environments would be significant, as notification systems are fundamental to system monitoring and alerting mechanisms that organizations rely upon for security operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0168 focus primarily on updating to patched versions of Mac OS X, as Apple would have addressed the underlying CoreFoundation implementation. System administrators should prioritize applying security patches promptly, as this vulnerability represents a serious threat to system integrity. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous notification patterns may help identify potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments should verify that notification logging systems are properly configured. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in system-level frameworks, particularly when handling user-provided or system-generated data. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for unusual notification activity patterns. From a compliance standpoint, this vulnerability would likely trigger requirements under security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53, which emphasizes the need for secure system design and implementation practices. Regular security audits should include verification that CoreFoundation components are properly updated and that notification logging mechanisms are functioning securely. The remediation process should also involve reviewing system configurations to ensure that notification handling is properly restricted and that only authorized components can send notifications to the system.