CVE-2007-4709 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in CFNetwork in Apple Mac OS X 10.5.1 allows remote attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via a crafted HTTP response.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4709 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within Apple's CFNetwork framework operating on Mac OS X 10.5.1 systems. This security weakness specifically affects the network communication stack that handles HTTP responses, creating an avenue for remote attackers to exploit the system's file handling mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and path resolution within the CFNetwork component, which processes web content and manages network requests for various applications and system services. Attackers can craft malicious HTTP responses that contain specially formatted paths or directory references designed to bypass normal file access controls and gain unauthorized write access to arbitrary locations on the target system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when CFNetwork processes HTTP responses containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ that are intended to navigate up directory structures. When the framework fails to properly sanitize these paths before attempting file operations, it can result in the creation or modification of files outside of their intended directories. This flaw particularly affects applications that rely on CFNetwork for web content retrieval, including web browsers, email clients, and system utilities that fetch resources from remote servers. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22 as a directory traversal attack, which is a well-documented weakness in software systems where user-supplied input is not properly validated against directory access restrictions. This weakness allows attackers to access files and directories that are outside of the intended scope, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-4709 extends beyond simple file overwrites to encompass potential system compromise and data integrity violations. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install malicious software, modify system binaries, or overwrite critical configuration files that could lead to persistent access or system instability. The vulnerability affects the core network framework that supports numerous system services, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through various attack vectors including web browsing, email attachments, or automated system updates. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers can execute malicious code through compromised system components, and T1566 for malicious file execution, where crafted HTTP responses can trigger unauthorized file operations. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be automated, making it a significant threat to system security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4709 primarily involve applying Apple's official security patches and updates that address the directory traversal vulnerability within CFNetwork. System administrators should prioritize updating Mac OS X 10.5.1 systems to newer versions that contain the necessary security fixes, as Apple released patches specifically designed to remediate this flaw. Network administrators can implement additional protective measures such as firewall rules that restrict outbound HTTP traffic to trusted sources, content filtering solutions that scan HTTP responses for suspicious path sequences, and intrusion detection systems that monitor for directory traversal patterns. Application-level protections include implementing strict input validation for all HTTP response handling, using secure coding practices that prevent path traversal in file operations, and employing sandboxing techniques to limit the privileges of network-aware applications. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to reduce the attack surface and regularly audit system configurations to ensure that no applications are running with unnecessary privileges that could be exploited through this vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the security patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications while maintaining the integrity of the system's network communication capabilities.