CVE-2007-0722 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow 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 AppleSingleEncoding disk image.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-0722 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting Apple Mac OS X versions 10.3.9 through 10.4.8. This vulnerability resides within the handling of AppleSingleEncoding disk images, which are used to encapsulate files with metadata for cross-platform compatibility. The flaw occurs when the system processes specially crafted disk images that contain malformed integer values in their headers, leading to memory corruption during the parsing process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking in the AppleSingle encoding parser. When the operating system encounters a disk image with oversized or negative integer values in its structure fields, the integer overflow condition causes the application to allocate insufficient memory for processing the image contents. This memory allocation failure results in buffer overflows that can be exploited by attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious code. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of file size and offset values within the AppleSingle file format, where integer arithmetic operations exceed the maximum representable value for the data type, causing the system to interpret the overflowed values as negative or extremely large numbers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to affected systems with elevated privileges. The attack requires user interaction to open the malicious disk image, making it a user-assisted remote code execution vulnerability rather than a fully autonomous exploit. However, the potential for widespread compromise remains significant given the prevalence of Mac OS X systems in enterprise and personal environments. The vulnerability affects systems that process AppleSingle encoded files automatically, including those that mount disk images from network shares or email attachments, creating multiple attack vectors for exploitation.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The attack pattern follows typical remote code execution methodologies described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques such as T1059 for command and scripting interpreter execution. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in file format parsers, as similar flaws have been documented in numerous other operating systems and applications. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including system updates to patched versions of Mac OS X, network segmentation to limit automatic mounting of untrusted disk images, and user education regarding suspicious file attachments. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing file type restrictions and monitoring for unusual disk image processing activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical need for regular security updates and proper memory safety practices in system software development.