CVE-2008-0040 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in NFS in Apple Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.5.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (system shutdown) or execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors related to mbuf chains that trigger memory corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0040 represents a critical memory corruption issue within the Network File System implementation of Apple Mac OS X versions 10.5 through 10.5.1. This flaw exists within the kernel-level networking components responsible for handling mbuf chains, which are fundamental data structures used to manage network packet data in BSD-based operating systems. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways could potentially trigger the underlying memory corruption, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it may be exploitable through various network-based attack scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of mbuf chain structures within the NFS subsystem. Mbuf chains are used to represent network packets that traverse the kernel network stack, and when these structures are manipulated incorrectly, they can lead to memory corruption that manifests as either system crashes or arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability specifically targets the memory management mechanisms that process network data packets, creating conditions where malformed or specially crafted network traffic could cause the kernel to access invalid memory locations or corrupt critical data structures. This type of memory corruption vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0040 is severe and multifaceted, affecting system stability and security posture of affected Mac OS X systems. Remote attackers capable of sending malicious network packets to vulnerable systems could trigger immediate system shutdowns, effectively creating a denial of service condition that would disrupt legitimate network services and user activities. Additionally, the potential for arbitrary code execution presents a more sinister threat where attackers could gain unauthorized control over affected systems, potentially establishing persistent access for data exfiltration, system compromise, or further network propagation. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that systems could be compromised without requiring physical access or local user credentials, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network services are widely exposed. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0040 should focus on immediate system updates and network security measures. Apple addressed this vulnerability through security updates that patched the memory corruption issues within the NFS implementation, and system administrators should prioritize applying the official patches as soon as possible. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict unnecessary NFS traffic, particularly from untrusted networks, while monitoring for anomalous network patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of kernel-level security hardening and proper input validation in network protocol implementations, reinforcing industry best practices around memory safety and buffer management. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems capable of identifying suspicious network traffic patterns associated with potential NFS-based attacks, as well as maintaining comprehensive backup and recovery procedures to address potential system compromise scenarios.