CVE-2006-0384 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
automount in Mac OS X 10.4.5 and earlier allows remote file servers to cause a denial of service (unresponsiveness) or execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors that cause automount to "mount file systems with reserved names".
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0384 affects the automount service in Mac OS X versions 10.4.5 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to exploit the system through improper handling of file system mount operations. This issue specifically targets the automount daemon which is responsible for automatically mounting file systems when accessed, creating a potential attack surface that could be leveraged for both denial of service and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability arises from the improper validation of file system names during the mounting process, allowing malicious file servers to specify reserved or special names that trigger unexpected behavior in the automount service.
The technical flaw manifests when the automount service processes mount requests containing file system names that are reserved or have special meanings within the operating system's file system hierarchy. These reserved names typically include special device names, control characters, or other identifiers that should not be processed as regular file system mounts. When such names are encountered, the automount service fails to properly validate or sanitize the input, leading to unpredictable behavior that can result in system unresponsiveness or potentially allow for code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic case of insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data within a privileged system component. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where the system does not adequately check or filter input parameters before processing them.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it provides a potential pathway for remote code execution that could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to affected systems. When a remote file server presents a mount request containing reserved names, the automount service may either become unresponsive due to infinite loops or other processing errors, or it may execute code with elevated privileges due to improper memory handling or buffer management. This vulnerability particularly affects systems that automatically connect to network file shares or have automount enabled for network drives, making it a significant threat in enterprise environments where automatic mounting of network resources is common. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no local access or authentication, allowing remote exploitation from any system capable of communicating with the target's network file sharing services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-0384 should focus on immediate system updates and configuration changes to prevent exploitation. The primary solution involves upgrading to Mac OS X 10.4.6 or later versions where Apple has implemented proper input validation for automount operations and addressed the specific handling of reserved file system names. System administrators should also consider disabling automount functionality for network file systems when it is not required, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to file sharing services. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for suspicious mount requests and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also review their network file sharing configurations to ensure that automatic mounting of network resources is properly restricted and that appropriate access controls are in place to limit exposure to this vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that legitimate network file sharing operations continue to function properly after implementing these security controls.