CVE-2006-3501 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in ImageIO for Apple Mac OS X 10.4.7 allows user-assisted attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted Radiance image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3501 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the ImageIO framework of Apple Mac OS X 10.4.7 operating system. This issue specifically affects the processing of Radiance image files, which are commonly used in computer graphics and scientific visualization applications. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and boundary checking within the image parsing routines that handle Radiance format specifications. When a maliciously crafted Radiance image file is processed by applications leveraging the ImageIO framework, the integer overflow condition occurs during memory allocation calculations, leading to unpredictable behavior in the affected software components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of image metadata fields within the Radiance format that control the dimensions and memory requirements for image data structures. When the parser encounters malformed or specially constructed values in these fields, it performs arithmetic operations that exceed the maximum representable value for the integer data type being used. This overflow condition results in the allocation of insufficient memory or incorrect memory regions, causing the application to crash during image rendering or processing operations. The vulnerability's exploitability is enhanced by the fact that it can be triggered through user-assisted means, where an attacker convinces a victim to open a maliciously crafted image file through normal application workflows.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable arbitrary code execution within the context of the affected application. When the integer overflow occurs during memory allocation, it can corrupt adjacent memory locations or create conditions where attacker-controlled data can be written to critical memory regions. This memory corruption can be leveraged to overwrite function pointers, return addresses, or other control data structures, potentially allowing an attacker to redirect program execution flow. The vulnerability affects applications that utilize the ImageIO framework for image processing, including but not limited to preview applications, image viewers, and graphic design software that may be present on the target system.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as aligning with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and it demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1203, involving the exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities for code execution. The vulnerability's classification as user-assisted indicates that social engineering may be required to successfully exploit the flaw, but once triggered, the consequences can be severe. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Apple, disabling automatic image preview for untrusted files, and implementing network-level controls to prevent the distribution of potentially malicious image files. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for unusual application crashes or memory allocation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and consider implementing application sandboxing to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of robust input validation in multimedia processing libraries and the need for comprehensive security testing of image parsing routines. This flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign file format processing can become a vector for serious security incidents, particularly when legacy systems are involved. The vulnerability also underscores the critical nature of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the potential risks associated with running older operating system versions that may contain unpatched security flaws. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all applications that may be affected by similar issues in their environments, particularly those that handle third-party image formats or use legacy libraries that may contain similar integer overflow conditions.