CVE-2005-1307 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) stopserver.sh and (2) startserver.sh scripts in Adobe Version Cue on Mac OS X uses the current working directory to find and execute the productname.sh script, which allows local users to execute arbitrary code by copying and calling the scripts from a user-controlled directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1307 resides in Adobe Version Cue software for Mac OS X systems, specifically affecting the stopserver.sh and startserver.sh administrative scripts. This issue represents a classic path traversal and privilege escalation vulnerability that exploits the insecure handling of script execution paths within the software's deployment mechanism. The flaw manifests when these scripts attempt to locate and execute a productname.sh script using the current working directory as the primary search location rather than a fixed, secure path.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the scripts' reliance on relative path resolution instead of absolute path specifications when locating dependent shell scripts. When a local user places a malicious productname.sh script in a directory of their choosing and then executes the stopserver.sh or startserver.sh scripts from that location, the system automatically executes their malicious payload with the privileges of the running process. This behavior aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges and access control, specifically the insecure use of the current working directory in script execution contexts. The vulnerability essentially creates a privilege escalation vector where unprivileged users can execute arbitrary code with elevated permissions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant security risk to organizations utilizing Adobe Version Cue on Mac OS X platforms. The attack requires local system access but does not necessitate network connectivity or complex exploitation techniques, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users share system resources. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially allow attackers to modify system configurations, escalate privileges, or establish persistent access points within the affected systems. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves the exploitation of local system privileges to gain elevated access, and T1059, which encompasses the execution of malicious code through scripting mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through software updates from Adobe, as well as implementing system hardening measures to prevent unauthorized script modifications. Organizations should consider restricting write permissions to directories containing critical system scripts and implementing monitoring for unauthorized script installations. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that administrative scripts run with minimal required permissions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices, particularly in script-based systems where relative path resolution can create exploitable conditions. Regular security audits of script execution paths and privilege escalation mechanisms should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the enterprise environment. System administrators should also implement proper file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized modifications to critical system scripts that could enable this type of attack vector.