CVE-2006-3502 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in ImageIO in Apple Mac OS X 10.4.7 allows user-assisted attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted GIF image that triggers a memory allocation failure that is not properly handled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-3502 represents a critical security flaw within Apple Mac OS X 10.4.7's ImageIO framework, specifically affecting the processing of GIF image files. This issue falls under the category of memory safety vulnerabilities and demonstrates how improper handling of memory allocation failures can lead to severe system instability. The vulnerability operates through a user-assisted attack vector, meaning that an attacker must convince a user to open a specifically crafted malicious GIF image for the exploit to be effective. The flaw manifests when the ImageIO framework encounters a malformed GIF file that triggers a memory allocation failure, which the system fails to handle gracefully.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability represents a classic case of inadequate error handling in memory management operations. The ImageIO framework in Mac OS X 10.4.7 does not properly validate or recover from memory allocation failures that occur during the processing of malformed GIF images. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-704, which categorizes improper handling of memory allocation failures, and specifically relates to CWE-129, which deals with insufficient validation of the length of input data. The failure to properly handle memory allocation errors creates a condition where the system can either crash unpredictably or potentially allow for arbitrary code execution, depending on the specific memory corruption that occurs during the allocation failure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it could potentially enable remote code execution under certain conditions. When a user opens a malicious GIF image, the system's memory allocation failure handling mechanism is triggered, leading to either a system crash or in more severe cases, the possibility of arbitrary code execution. This represents a significant threat to system integrity and user security, particularly in environments where users might encounter untrusted image files. The vulnerability affects the core image processing capabilities of the operating system, making it a critical target for exploitation in social engineering attacks where users are诱导 to open malicious attachments or view compromised web content.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust error handling in system components that process untrusted input data. The flaw highlights the need for comprehensive memory safety practices and proper validation of input parameters before processing. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions of Mac OS X, implementing network-based restrictions on GIF file processing, and educating users about the risks of opening untrusted image files. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and execution through malicious file formats, specifically covering the T1064 and T1059 techniques related to arbitrary code execution and command and scripting interpreter usage. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against similar memory safety issues that could compromise system integrity and user data.