CVE-2005-1725 in Mac OS X Server
Summary
by MITRE
launchd 106 in Apple Mac OS X 10.4.x up to 10.4.1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the socket file in an insecure temporary directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1725 affects launchd version 106 in Apple Mac OS X 10.4.x up to 10.4.1, representing a critical security flaw that enables local attackers to perform arbitrary file overwrites through a symlink attack mechanism. This issue stems from improper handling of temporary files and socket creation processes within the launchd service, which is fundamental to the operating system's process management and service initialization framework. The vulnerability specifically targets the insecure temporary directory handling where launchd creates its socket file, creating an exploitable race condition that allows malicious users to manipulate the system's service management infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability operates through a classic symlink attack pattern where an attacker creates a symbolic link to a target file in a temporary directory that launchd subsequently uses for socket creation. When launchd attempts to create its socket file in the insecure temporary directory, it does not properly validate the existence of the target file or verify the integrity of the symbolic link, allowing an attacker to pre-create a symlink pointing to a critical system file such as /etc/passwd or other sensitive locations. This flaw directly maps to CWE-377, which categorizes insecure temporary file handling, and specifically demonstrates the dangerous practice of creating files in world-writable directories without proper security checks. The vulnerability exploits the fundamental principle that temporary files should be created with exclusive access permissions to prevent such race conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwrites, as it provides attackers with a means to compromise the core service management infrastructure of Mac OS X 10.4.x systems. Successful exploitation allows attackers to manipulate critical system processes, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise, since launchd is responsible for managing system services and daemon processes. The vulnerability affects all local users with access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where an unprivileged user could potentially exploit this weakness to gain elevated privileges. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to modify system configuration files, inject malicious code into critical services, or even create backdoors that persist across system reboots, as launchd services are typically started automatically during system initialization.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate system hardening measures including restricting write permissions on temporary directories, implementing proper file creation atomicity checks, and ensuring that launchd creates socket files with appropriate security permissions. System administrators should consider upgrading to patched versions of Mac OS X 10.4.2 or later, where Apple addressed this vulnerability through improved temporary file handling mechanisms. The remediation process involves verifying that temporary directories used by launchd are not world-writable and implementing proper file validation before socket creation. Additionally, organizations should monitor for signs of exploitation through system logs and implement proper access controls to limit local user privileges where possible. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1059.003 for process injection and T1068 for local privilege escalation, demonstrating how fundamental system services can be compromised through improper temporary file management practices.