CVE-2006-1449 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Mail in Apple Mac OS X 10.3.9 and 10.4.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted MacMIME encapsulated attachment.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1449 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Mail application of Apple Mac OS X versions 10.3.9 and 10.4.6. This security weakness specifically affects the handling of MacMIME encapsulated attachments, creating a pathway for remote attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code on targeted systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the email processing mechanism, particularly when parsing specially crafted attachment structures that exploit integer arithmetic overflow conditions.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs during the processing of MacMIME encoded attachments where the application fails to properly validate the size parameters of incoming data structures. When a maliciously crafted attachment is received, the Mail application attempts to allocate memory based on calculated size values that have been manipulated to exceed normal integer limits. This overflow condition results in unpredictable memory allocation behavior, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious code. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no local privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through simple email communication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to gain complete control over affected systems. The integer overflow creates opportunities for buffer overflow conditions that can be leveraged to inject and execute malicious payloads with the privileges of the Mail application process. This represents a significant threat to enterprise environments where email systems serve as primary attack vectors, potentially allowing for lateral movement, data exfiltration, and persistent access to network resources. The vulnerability affects systems running older versions of Mac OS X that were widely deployed in corporate and educational environments during that time period.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-1449 should prioritize immediate system updates to patched versions of Mac OS X, as Apple released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement email filtering mechanisms that scan for and block suspicious MacMIME attachments, particularly those with unusual size parameters or encoding patterns. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments should verify that all systems have been properly patched. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to remote code execution. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, highlighting the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust email security controls.