CVE-2005-3706 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in LibSystem in Mac OS X 10.4 through 10.4.5 allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code by causing an application that uses LibSystem to request a large amount of memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3706 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within LibSystem, a core component of Mac OS X operating systems ranging from version 10.4 through 10.4.5. This flaw exists within the memory management subsystem that applications rely upon for dynamic memory allocation and deallocation. The vulnerability manifests when applications utilizing LibSystem request substantial memory allocations, creating conditions where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory regions in the heap. The heap-based nature of this overflow means that the vulnerability occurs in dynamically allocated memory areas rather than on the stack, making exploitation more complex but equally dangerous. The context-dependent nature of this vulnerability indicates that successful exploitation requires specific conditions to be met, typically involving the precise manipulation of memory allocation patterns and application behavior.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within LibSystem's memory allocation functions. When applications request large memory blocks, the underlying heap management code fails to properly validate the requested size against available heap space or allocated buffer boundaries. This allows malicious input to overflow into adjacent heap memory, potentially corrupting metadata structures, function pointers, or other critical data elements. The flaw specifically affects the heap management routines that handle memory requests exceeding normal allocation limits, creating opportunities for attackers to overwrite memory in ways that can redirect program execution flow. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation in memory management code.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-3706 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the compromised application process, potentially leading to complete system takeover when targeting privileged applications. The vulnerability affects the entire Mac OS X 10.4.x series, encompassing a significant portion of the user base at the time of disclosure. Applications that frequently perform large memory allocations become prime targets for exploitation, including system utilities, network services, and applications with complex memory management requirements. The heap corruption can result in unpredictable program behavior, application crashes, or more sinisterly, provide attackers with opportunities to inject and execute malicious code. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation often involves injecting code that can be executed within the target application's context.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates and comprehensive memory management practices. Apple released security patches addressing this specific heap overflow condition in subsequent Mac OS X updates, making system patching the primary remediation approach. Organizations should implement memory allocation monitoring and validation techniques to detect anomalous memory usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and bounds checking in memory management functions, emphasizing that all memory allocation routines should verify requested sizes against available heap space. System administrators should consider implementing application sandboxing and privilege separation techniques to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns and implementing heap corruption detection mechanisms can provide early warning signs of attempted exploitation. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched systems to ensure that legitimate applications continue to function properly while the heap overflow vulnerability is eliminated.