CVE-2008-3613 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Finder in Apple Mac OS X 10.5.2 through 10.5.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via vectors involving a search for a remote disk on the local network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3613 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Apple Mac OS X Finder component affecting versions 10.5.2 through 10.5.4. This issue manifests when the Finder attempts to search for remote disk volumes on the local network, creating a scenario where a remote attacker can trigger a NULL pointer dereference that ultimately leads to application crash and system instability. The vulnerability operates through a specific network interaction pattern that causes the Finder application to improperly handle remote disk discovery requests, resulting in an unhandled memory access error that terminates the application process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the Finder's network discovery mechanism. When the system encounters remote disk volumes during network scanning operations, particularly those that respond unexpectedly or contain malformed network identifiers, the Finder fails to properly validate pointer references before accessing memory locations. This NULL pointer dereference condition occurs specifically during the processing of network volume enumeration responses, where the application attempts to access a memory address that has not been properly initialized or allocated. The flaw aligns with CWE-476 which identifies NULL pointer dereference as a common weakness in software security implementations, particularly in operating system components that handle network communications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to Mac OS X environments where network discovery is actively utilized or where attackers may have network access to target systems. The denial of service impact extends beyond simple application disruption as it can affect user productivity and potentially provide attackers with a means to repeatedly crash the Finder application, creating persistent service interruptions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where network volume discovery is frequently used for file sharing and resource access. Attackers can exploit this weakness by simply initiating network discovery operations against systems running vulnerable versions of Mac OS X, making the attack vector relatively simple to execute without requiring elevated privileges or complex exploitation techniques.
The attack surface for CVE-2008-3613 is primarily within networked environments where Mac OS X systems are configured to automatically discover network volumes or where users may browse network resources. This vulnerability can be triggered through normal Finder operations when the system attempts to locate network resources, making it difficult to prevent through user behavior changes alone. The impact extends to both local and remote exploitation scenarios, as attackers can potentially trigger the vulnerability through network-based attacks or by placing malicious network resources within reach of vulnerable systems. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, while also applying the appropriate security patches as recommended by Apple. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in operating system components and highlights the necessity of thorough input validation in network-facing applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499 which addresses denial of service attacks targeting system resources.
The remediation for this vulnerability requires immediate application of Apple's security updates and patches that address the NULL pointer dereference in the Finder component's network volume handling. System administrators should prioritize deployment of the patched versions of Mac OS X 10.5.5 or later, as these releases contain the necessary fixes to prevent the improper memory access conditions. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual volume discovery patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while also maintaining regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices in operating system development, particularly in handling network communications and memory management operations that are fundamental to system stability and security.