CVE-2006-3497 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the "compression state handling" in Bom for Apple Mac OS X 10.3.9 and 10.4.7 allows user-assisted attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted Zip archive.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3497 represents a critical flaw in Apple Mac OS X operating systems, specifically affecting versions 10.3.9 and 10.4.7. This issue resides within the compression state handling mechanisms of the Bom (Bill of Materials) component, which is integral to the system's file management and packaging processes. The Bom serves as a metadata container that tracks file attributes and system configurations during installation and archive operations, making it a crucial element in the operating system's architecture.
The technical flaw manifests in how the system processes compressed archives, particularly Zip files, when handling compression state information. Attackers can craft specially designed Zip archives that exploit improper state management during decompression operations. This vulnerability operates under the broader category of buffer overflows and memory corruption issues, which are classified under CWE-121 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The improper handling of compression states creates a scenario where the application fails to properly validate or manage the memory structures used during decompression, leading to unpredictable behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enabling arbitrary code execution. When a user opens or processes the maliciously crafted Zip archive, the compression state handling error causes the application to crash or behave erratically, resulting in system instability. However, the more severe implications arise from the possibility that attackers could manipulate the compression state information to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the vulnerable application. This represents a significant security risk as it could allow attackers to escalate privileges or compromise the entire system.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the execution of malicious code through application execution or scripting. The user-assisted nature of this attack means that social engineering elements are typically required to convince victims to open the malicious archive, but once triggered, the impact can be severe. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper memory management in system components that handle user-provided data, particularly in archive processing utilities. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how seemingly benign functionality can become a vector for serious security breaches when proper state management and input validation are absent.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Apple's security patches and updates for affected Mac OS X versions, along with implementing network-level controls to prevent the delivery of malicious archives. Organizations should also establish robust application whitelisting policies and user education programs to reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of regular security updates and proper code review processes, particularly for components that handle user input and system-critical operations such as file decompression and archive management.