CVE-2006-6652 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the glob implementation (glob.c) in libc in NetBSD-current before 20050914, NetBSD 2.* and 3.* before 20061203, and Apple Mac OS X before 2007-004, as used by the FTP daemon and tnftpd, allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via a long pathname that results from path expansion.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-6652 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the glob implementation of libc libraries across multiple operating systems including NetBSD and Apple Mac OS X. This issue specifically affects the glob.c file which handles pathname expansion operations, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation when processing long pathnames through the FTP daemon and tnftpd services. The vulnerability was particularly concerning because it allowed authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, making it a significant threat to network security infrastructure.
The technical flaw stems from improper bounds checking within the glob function implementation where the system fails to adequately validate the length of pathnames during expansion operations. When a long pathname is processed through the glob mechanism, the implementation does not sufficiently verify that the resulting expanded path will fit within allocated buffer boundaries, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This buffer overflow condition creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow and inject malicious code into the target system's memory space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it affects critical network services such as FTP daemons and tnftpd implementations that are fundamental to file transfer operations across networks. Attackers who can authenticate to these services can leverage the buffer overflow to gain elevated privileges and potentially compromise entire network infrastructures. The vulnerability affects systems running NetBSD versions prior to specific patch dates and Apple Mac OS X versions before the 2007-004 security update, representing a substantial portion of deployed systems during that time period and highlighting the widespread nature of the flaw.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and CWE-121 for stack-based buffer overflow, demonstrating how the flaw can be leveraged for privilege escalation and persistent access to compromised systems. Organizations running affected versions of NetBSD and Mac OS X were particularly vulnerable as they could be targeted by attackers who gained legitimate authentication credentials to exploit this memory corruption vulnerability. The issue underscores the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in system libraries, as the flaw existed in fundamental components that numerous applications depend upon for pathname expansion operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of affected operating system versions, with system administrators prioritizing updates to NetBSD 2.x and 3.x releases and Apple Mac OS X systems before the specified patch dates. The solution involved updating the libc library implementation to properly validate pathname lengths during glob expansion operations, preventing buffer overflows from occurring when processing long pathnames. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should have been implemented to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while monitoring systems were necessary to detect any suspicious FTP activity that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability.