CVE-2004-1086 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
buffer overflow in psnormalizer for apple mac os x 10.3.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted postscript input file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1086 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the psnormalizer component of Apple Mac OS X version 10.3.6. This security defect resides in the PostScript processing functionality that handles document conversion and printing operations, specifically affecting how the system normalizes PostScript files before they are processed by the printing subsystem. The psnormalizer utility serves as an intermediary component that transforms PostScript input into a format suitable for printer consumption, making it a crucial element in the document processing pipeline. When a maliciously crafted PostScript file is processed through this utility, the buffer overflow condition occurs during input validation and parsing operations, creating an opportunity for unauthorized code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the psnormalizer application's memory management routines. When processing PostScript files, the utility allocates fixed-size buffers to store intermediate data structures and parsed elements from the input stream. However, the implementation fails to properly validate the length of incoming PostScript commands and data, allowing attackers to provide input that exceeds the allocated buffer space. This overflow can overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, and other critical program state information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of the system's printing services, which often run with elevated privileges and may be accessible to network-based attackers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to Mac OS X 10.3.6 systems as it enables remote code execution without requiring authentication or local access. Attackers can exploit this weakness by delivering a malicious PostScript file through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or network file sharing services. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as the vulnerability can be leveraged to gain complete system control, potentially allowing attackers to install malware, modify system files, or establish persistent backdoors. The remote exploit capability makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors who can target multiple systems simultaneously without physical access or user interaction requirements.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as aligning with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Apple's security patches, disabling unnecessary printing services, and implementing network segmentation to limit exposure. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems that monitor for suspicious PostScript file processing activities and restricting user access to printing services can help reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in system components that process untrusted data, particularly those operating with elevated privileges.