CVE-2007-0721 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in diskimages-helper in Apple Mac OS X 10.3.9 and 10.4 through 10.4.8 allows remote user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted compressed disk image that triggers memory corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0721 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the diskimages-helper component of Apple Mac OS X operating systems. This issue affects versions 10.3.9 and 10.4 through 10.4.8, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers with user assistance. The diskimages-helper utility serves as a core system component responsible for handling disk image files, particularly those in compressed formats such as those created with the hdiutil command. When processing malformed or specially crafted compressed disk images, the helper process fails to properly validate input data, leading to unpredictable memory corruption behaviors that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution.
This vulnerability operates through a classic buffer overflow or memory corruption attack vector that falls under the CWE-121 category of Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input. The flaw manifests when the diskimages-helper process attempts to decompress or parse a maliciously crafted disk image file, causing memory structures to become corrupted in ways that allow attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the helper process. The remote user-assisted nature of this attack means that an attacker does not need to be physically present at the target system but can deliver the malicious payload through network-based means, with the victim's interaction being required to initiate the vulnerable process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to system resources. The memory corruption occurs within a privileged system helper tool, which means successful exploitation could potentially allow attackers to execute code with elevated privileges, compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the affected system. The vulnerability affects the core disk image handling functionality of Mac OS X, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through various legitimate use cases such as downloading and opening disk image files from untrusted sources, including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing networks.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. The attack chain typically involves delivering a malicious compressed disk image to a victim who then opens it, triggering the vulnerable diskimages-helper process. The exploitation process can be automated through social engineering techniques, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may unknowingly download and execute malicious content. Organizations should consider implementing network-based protections and user education programs to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-0721 should include immediate deployment of Apple's security patches and updates, as well as implementing administrative controls to restrict the execution of potentially malicious disk images. System administrators should disable automatic mounting of disk images from untrusted sources and configure security policies to limit the privileges of the diskimages-helper process. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious disk image file transfers, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify systems running vulnerable versions of Mac OS X. The vulnerability underscores the importance of keeping operating systems updated and demonstrates how seemingly benign system utilities can become attack vectors when not properly secured against malformed input data processing.