CVE-2004-0744 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The TCP/IP Networking component in Mac OS X before 10.3.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory and resource consumption) via a "Rose Attack" that involves sending a subset of small IP fragments that do not form a complete, larger packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0744 represents a significant flaw in the TCP/IP networking implementation of Mac OS X versions prior to 10.3.5, specifically within the network stack's handling of IP fragment reassembly. This vulnerability operates under the classification of CWE-129, which deals with insufficient validation of the length of input data, and falls into the broader category of resource exhaustion attacks that can lead to denial of service conditions. The Rose Attack mechanism exploits a fundamental weakness in how the operating system processes fragmented IP packets, particularly those that are small and do not constitute complete datagrams.
The technical flaw manifests when the TCP/IP stack receives a series of small IP fragments that, when combined, do not form a complete packet but instead create a situation where the reassembly process consumes excessive memory resources. This attack leverages the fact that Mac OS X systems process IP fragments in a manner that does not adequately validate the cumulative size or structure of fragments being reassembled, allowing an attacker to send carefully crafted sequences of fragments that cause the system to allocate memory for reassembly without ever completing the packet. The vulnerability operates at the network layer and specifically targets the IP fragment reassembly mechanism that is essential for proper network communication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise system stability and availability. When exploited, the Rose Attack can cause significant memory consumption and resource exhaustion, leading to system slowdowns, application crashes, or complete system hangs. The attack does not require authentication or special privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed by any remote attacker with network access. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, as it specifically targets the network infrastructure to prevent normal service delivery.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to Mac OS X 10.3.5 or later versions where Apple addressed the fragment reassembly logic. Network administrators should also implement defensive measures such as fragment filtering at network boundaries, rate limiting for fragment traffic, and monitoring for unusual fragment patterns. The fix implemented by Apple involved strengthening the validation of fragment sizes and ensuring that the system does not allocate excessive memory resources when processing incomplete fragment sets. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and firewall rules that limit the types of IP fragments allowed through network boundaries, particularly in environments where the risk of exploitation is high. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper input validation in network stack implementations and demonstrates how seemingly benign network traffic can be weaponized to cause system instability and resource exhaustion.