CVE-2007-2390 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in iChat in Apple Mac OS X 10.3.9 and 10.4.9 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application termination) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted UPnP Internet Gateway Device (IGD) packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2390 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Apple's iChat application running on Mac OS X versions 10.3.9 and 10.4.9. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the UPnP Internet Gateway Device packet processing functionality, where the application fails to properly bounds-check data received from network sources. The flaw specifically manifests when iChat encounters malformed UPnP IGD packets, which are commonly used for port mapping and network configuration in home and office environments. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, occurring when the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This particular implementation flaw demonstrates the dangerous intersection of network protocol handling and memory management in client applications, where remote attackers can exploit this weakness to manipulate the application's execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as the buffer overflow creates opportunities for arbitrary code execution within the context of the iChat process. When a maliciously crafted UPnP packet is received, the overflow can overwrite critical memory segments including return addresses and function pointers, potentially allowing an attacker to redirect program execution to malicious code. The attack vector relies on the iChat application's automatic discovery and connection behavior towards UPnP devices, making it particularly dangerous as users may unknowingly trigger the vulnerability simply by having iChat running on a network with compromised devices. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring any special privileges or authentication, making it a significant threat to system integrity and availability.
The security implications of CVE-2007-2390 align with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and code execution. This vulnerability demonstrates how network-based services can become attack surfaces for remote exploitation, particularly when applications implement insufficient validation of external input data. The affected versions of Mac OS X were widely deployed in enterprise and consumer environments, amplifying the potential impact of this vulnerability. Organizations using affected systems faced significant risk of unauthorized access, data compromise, and service disruption. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise Mac systems. Network administrators should consider implementing firewall rules to restrict UPnP traffic and disable unnecessary iChat functionality to reduce the attack surface. The incident underscores the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in network-facing applications, as highlighted in industry best practices for secure coding and vulnerability management.