CVE-2005-3702 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Safari in Mac OS X and OS X Server 10.3.9 and 10.4.3 allows remote attackers to cause files to be downloaded to locations outside the download directory via a long file name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2025
This vulnerability exists in Apple Safari web browser versions shipped with Mac OS X 10.3.9 and OS X Server 10.4.3, representing a classic path traversal flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate file download destinations. The technical implementation involves a buffer overflow or insufficient input validation in the file name handling mechanism during download operations. When a malicious web server crafts a specially formatted file name with excessive length or directory traversal sequences, the browser fails to properly sanitize or validate these inputs before writing files to disk. This vulnerability specifically targets the download directory management functionality where Safari should restrict file placement to a designated safe location but instead permits arbitrary file system access through crafted long file names.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file placement, as it can enable attackers to write files to critical system directories or overwrite existing system files. This creates potential for privilege escalation, persistent malware installation, or system compromise scenarios where the attacker can place malicious executables in locations where they will be executed automatically. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard web browsing activities, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter malicious websites. According to CWE standards, this maps to CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, both of which are critical security weaknesses that allow attackers to manipulate file system operations.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1195.001 for Content Injection and T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage it to deliver malicious payloads that execute in the victim's environment. The attack vector requires a remote web server to serve content with malicious file names, but once exploited, the impact can be significant for users who browse untrusted websites. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices in the download handling subsystem and represents a failure to implement proper boundary checks on file name lengths. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of broader web browser security assessments, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted content. The fix requires proper validation of file names and implementation of strict path restriction mechanisms to ensure downloads occur only in designated directories, preventing any form of directory traversal or path manipulation attacks that could lead to system compromise or data exfiltration.