CVE-2008-3616 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in the SearchKit API in Apple Mac OS X 10.4.11 and 10.5 through 10.5.4 allow context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or execute arbitrary code via vectors associated with "passing untrusted input" to unspecified API functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3616 represents a critical security flaw within Apple Mac OS X operating systems, specifically affecting versions 10.4.11 and 10.5 through 10.5.4. This issue resides within the SearchKit API, which serves as a fundamental component for text searching and indexing capabilities in the macOS ecosystem. The SearchKit API is extensively utilized by various system applications and third-party software for implementing search functionalities, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could potentially impact a wide range of applications and services running on affected systems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from multiple integer overflow conditions present in the SearchKit API functions that process untrusted input data. Integer overflows occur when a program attempts to store a value that exceeds the maximum limit that can be represented by a given integer data type, causing the value to wrap around to a much smaller number. In this case, attackers can manipulate input parameters passed to unspecified API functions within SearchKit, causing these functions to process malformed data that triggers integer overflow conditions. The vulnerability is context-dependent, meaning that successful exploitation requires specific conditions to be met, typically involving the ability to inject malicious data into the API functions that handle search operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests in two primary ways that pose significant risks to system integrity and availability. First, attackers can cause denial of service conditions by triggering application crashes that result in system instability and potential service interruptions. Second, and more critically, the integer overflow conditions can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources and execute malicious payloads. This arbitrary code execution capability transforms what might initially appear as a denial of service vulnerability into a serious exploit that could lead to complete system compromise, particularly when combined with other attack vectors or when targeting privileged applications.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, as the arbitrary code execution capability enables attackers to run malicious commands within the target system. The vulnerability's classification as a context-dependent issue means that exploitation typically requires attackers to have some level of influence over input data passed to the affected API functions, potentially through web applications, file processing, or other attack vectors that can manipulate the input flow to SearchKit functions.
Effective mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates and patches from Apple, as the primary solution involves applying the official security updates that address the integer overflow conditions in the SearchKit API. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected Mac OS X systems, particularly those running versions 10.4.11 and 10.5 through 10.5.4, to prevent exploitation by malicious actors. Additionally, network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting SearchKit API functions, and application developers should review their code for proper input validation and bounds checking when interacting with SearchKit functions. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments of system APIs to prevent similar integer overflow conditions that could lead to privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution attacks.