CVE-2005-0126 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
ColorSync on Mac OS X 10.3.7 and 10.3.8 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via malformed ICC color profiles that modify the heap.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0126 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow condition within the ColorSync component of Mac OS X versions 10.3.7 and 10.3.8. This flaw exists within the color management system that processes ICC (International Color Consortium) color profiles, which are essential for maintaining consistent color representation across different devices and applications. The vulnerability arises when the system processes malformed ICC profiles that contain specially crafted data structures designed to overwrite adjacent memory locations in the heap memory space.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper validation of ICC profile data structures during the parsing process. When ColorSync encounters a malformed ICC profile, the parsing routine fails to properly bounds-check the incoming data, allowing attackers to craft profiles that trigger heap memory corruption. This heap overflow condition can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the affected application, typically resulting in full system compromise. The vulnerability specifically targets the heap memory management routines within the ColorSync framework, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through legitimate color profile processing operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a sophisticated means of gaining unauthorized access to affected systems. The ability to execute arbitrary code through color profile handling represents a significant security risk, particularly in environments where users might encounter untrusted color profiles from unknown sources. Attackers can craft malicious ICC profiles that, when opened by any application that utilizes ColorSync for color management, will trigger the heap overflow and provide remote code execution capabilities. This vulnerability affects the core color management infrastructure of Mac OS X, making it particularly impactful given the widespread use of color profiles across various applications and system components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates and patch management to address the heap overflow condition in ColorSync. Apple released security updates that corrected the bounds-checking issues within the ICC profile parsing routines, ensuring that malformed profiles are properly rejected before processing. Organizations should implement strict controls over color profile distribution and avoid opening untrusted color profiles from unknown sources. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a classic example of how input validation failures can lead to remote code execution. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving exploitation of software vulnerabilities and privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the heap overflow to execute code with elevated privileges. System administrators should also consider implementing application sandboxing and monitoring for suspicious color profile handling activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.