CVE-2005-2757 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in CoreFoundation in Mac OS X and OS X Server 10.4 through 10.4.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown attack vectors involving "validation of URLs."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2757 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the CoreFoundation framework of Apple's Mac OS X operating system and OS X Server versions 10.4 through 10.4.3. This flaw resides in the system's URL validation mechanisms and constitutes a significant security weakness that could be exploited by remote attackers to gain arbitrary code execution capabilities. The vulnerability specifically affects the heap memory management routines within CoreFoundation, which serves as a fundamental framework for handling data structures and system operations in Apple's operating environment. The issue manifests during the validation process of Uniform Resource Locators, making it particularly dangerous as URL handling is a common attack surface in networked environments.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow stems from improper bounds checking within the CoreFoundation library's URL parsing and validation functions. When the system processes malformed or specially crafted URLs, the validation routines fail to properly validate memory boundaries, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent heap memory regions. This heap corruption can lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes, memory corruption, or more critically, the execution of arbitrary code within the context of the affected application or system process. The vulnerability's classification as heap-based indicates that the overflow occurs within dynamically allocated memory segments, making exploitation more complex but potentially more effective than stack-based buffer overflows. The attack vectors remain unspecified in the original CVE description, suggesting that multiple methods of exploitation may be possible through different URL formats or parsing scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-2757 extends beyond simple system compromise as it affects the foundational security of Mac OS X systems running the affected versions. Remote attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability through web browsers, email clients, or any application that utilizes CoreFoundation for URL processing and validation. The implications are severe given that CoreFoundation is deeply integrated into the operating system's architecture, meaning that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise with elevated privileges. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where OS X servers are commonly deployed, as these systems often handle complex network operations and may be more exposed to remote attack vectors. The lack of specific attack vector details in the original description suggests that the vulnerability may be exploitable through multiple delivery mechanisms, increasing the overall risk assessment.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official Apple security updates and patches. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to Mac OS X version 10.4.4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the CoreFoundation buffer overflow. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider temporary network restrictions that limit URL processing capabilities where possible. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a classic example of how memory safety issues in core system libraries can create widespread security implications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to initial access and execution phases, potentially enabling adversaries to establish persistent access through remote code execution capabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify any remaining exposure risks, particularly in legacy systems that may not have received the necessary security updates.