CVE-2007-4683 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the kernel in Apple Mac OS X 10.4 through 10.4.10 allows local users to bypass the chroot mechanism via a relative path when changing the current working directory.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4683 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the kernel implementation of Apple Mac OS X versions 10.4 through 10.4.10. This weakness specifically targets the chroot mechanism, which serves as a fundamental security feature designed to isolate processes within a restricted directory tree. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of relative paths during working directory changes, creating a pathway for local attackers to escape the intended chroot environment and access restricted system areas.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a local user leverages a relative path traversal technique to manipulate the current working directory of a process that has been confined within a chroot jail. The kernel's insufficient validation of path components allows malicious relative path references to navigate beyond the designated chroot boundaries, effectively bypassing the security isolation that should protect system resources and sensitive data. This flaw operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it undermines the core security model of the operating system and can potentially provide access to privileged system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables local users to gain unauthorized access to system files, directories, and potentially sensitive data that should remain isolated within the chroot environment. Attackers can exploit this weakness to read files outside the intended chroot scope, modify system configurations, or even establish persistent access points within the compromised system. The vulnerability affects a significant portion of Mac OS X 10.4 releases, creating widespread exposure across numerous systems that relied on chroot mechanisms for process isolation. This weakness particularly impacts systems where chroot jails are used for security purposes such as web servers, FTP services, or other network services that benefit from restricted execution environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4683 require immediate system updates to the patched versions of Mac OS X, as Apple released security updates addressing this specific kernel flaw. System administrators should also implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious directory traversal activities and ensure that chroot environments are properly configured with strict path validation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which categorizes path traversal attacks as a common weakness in software security implementations. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes the use of privilege escalation through kernel exploits, making it particularly concerning for attackers seeking to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within compromised systems. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as mandatory access controls and process monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper kernel path validation and highlights the potential consequences of insufficient input sanitization in core system components.