CVE-2004-1832 in Mac OS X Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the GUI admin service in Mac OS X Server 10.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash and restart) via a large amount of data to TCP port 660.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1832 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the graphical user interface administration service of Mac OS X Server 10.3. This particular weakness exists in the network service handling mechanism that manages administrative connections through TCP port 660, which is designated for the Mac OS X Server administration interface. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the service's data processing routines, creating an exploitable condition where malformed or excessively large data payloads can trigger unexpected behavior in the system's memory structures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the GUI admin service failing to properly bounds-check incoming data before processing it within fixed-size memory buffers. When a remote attacker sends an excessive amount of data to the designated TCP port 660, the service attempts to store this data in memory locations that are insufficiently sized to accommodate the input. This overflow condition causes the service to crash and restart automatically, resulting in a denial of service scenario that disrupts legitimate administrative access and system operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the service's handling of network requests without proper sanitization of input parameters.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Mac OS X Server 10.3 for administrative functions and network services. The remote exploit capability means that attackers can initiate the denial of service condition without requiring physical access or local privileges, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. The automatic restart behavior not only disrupts service availability but also potentially creates opportunities for additional exploitation attempts or system instability. Organizations using this version of Mac OS X Server face potential downtime and loss of administrative control over their systems, which could impact business continuity and operational effectiveness.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1832 primarily involve immediate patching and system updates to address the underlying buffer overflow condition. Apple released security updates specifically targeting this vulnerability in subsequent versions of Mac OS X Server, which included proper input validation mechanisms and enhanced memory management practices. Network-level protections such as firewall rules that restrict access to TCP port 660 can provide temporary mitigation while patches are deployed. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems that monitor for unusual traffic patterns on the affected port may help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of administrative services to trusted networks only, aligning with defensive cybersecurity practices recommended in various industry frameworks including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the attack patterns catalogued in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category for network denial of service attacks. The specific nature of the vulnerability and its exploitation methodology highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in network services, particularly those handling administrative functions that are exposed to external network traffic.