CVE-2007-0355 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Apple Minimal SLP v2 Service Agent (slpd) in Mac OS X 10.4.11 and earlier, including 10.4.8, allows local users, and possibly remote attackers, to gain privileges and possibly execute arbitrary code via a registration request with an invalid attr-list field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0355 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Apple Minimal SLP v2 Service Agent component known as slpd. This service operates as part of the Service Location Protocol implementation in Mac OS X versions up to and including 10.4.11, with the specific affected release being 10.4.8. The slpd daemon is responsible for managing service discovery and registration within the local network environment, making it a crucial component for network service availability and communication. The flaw manifests when processing registration requests containing malformed attr-list fields, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by both local and potentially remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the slpd service agent's parsing routine for SLP registration requests. When the daemon receives a registration message with an invalid attr-list field, it fails to properly bounds-check the data before copying it into a fixed-size buffer structure. This classic buffer overflow condition allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and enabling privilege escalation. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The attack vector can be either local, where an attacker already has system access, or remote if the service is accessible over the network, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network services may be exposed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential complete system compromise. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges, effectively providing them with full control over the affected system. This capability enables malicious actors to install backdoors, modify system files, exfiltrate sensitive data, or establish persistent access to the compromised host. The vulnerability's presence in the core service location protocol implementation means that any system running the affected Mac OS X versions could be compromised, potentially affecting network infrastructure, file servers, or any host that relies on SLP for service discovery. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that SLP services are often enabled by default in Mac OS X environments, making exploitation relatively straightforward for attackers who can craft malicious registration requests.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-0355 require immediate action from system administrators and security teams. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the official security patches provided by Apple, which would update the slpd service to properly validate input parameters and prevent buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the affected service to trusted networks only. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for suspicious registration requests and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in service-oriented applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through service exploitation. System hardening measures should include disabling unnecessary network services, implementing privilege separation, and conducting regular security audits of system components to identify similar vulnerabilities in other services. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the critical role that proper software security practices play in preventing exploitation of buffer overflow vulnerabilities in network services.