CVE-2008-3643 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Finder in Mac OS X 10.5.5 allows user-assisted attackers to cause a denial of service (continuous termination and restart) via a crafted Desktop file that generates an error when producing its icon, related to an "error recovery issue."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3643 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the Finder component of Mac OS X 10.5.5 operating system. This issue manifests through a specific error recovery mechanism flaw that can be exploited by attackers who have access to the target system. The vulnerability operates through a user-assisted attack vector, meaning that successful exploitation requires some form of user interaction or participation from the victim. The flaw specifically targets the Desktop file processing functionality within the Finder application, where the system encounters difficulties during icon generation procedures for malformed or specially crafted files. This particular weakness falls under the broader category of error handling vulnerabilities and can be categorized as a CWE-248 issue, representing an unchecked exception or improper error recovery situation. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves the use of denial of service attacks to disrupt system operations through resource exhaustion or application instability.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the Finder's handling of Desktop files when attempting to generate icons for display purposes. When a maliciously crafted Desktop file is processed, the system encounters an error condition during the icon generation phase that triggers an improper error recovery sequence. This error recovery mechanism fails to properly terminate the problematic process, instead causing the Finder application to continuously restart and terminate in an infinite loop. The continuous termination and restart cycle consumes significant system resources and effectively renders the Finder application unusable, creating a denial of service condition that impacts the user's ability to interact with the file system. The vulnerability specifically exploits the lack of proper bounds checking and error recovery procedures within the Desktop file parsing code, where the system does not adequately handle malformed input data during icon generation operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system disruption to create a persistent availability issue that affects core desktop functionality. Users experiencing this vulnerability would face continuous Finder crashes and restarts, preventing normal file management operations and potentially affecting other system components that depend on Finder functionality. The continuous nature of the restart cycle can also lead to increased system load and potential performance degradation that may impact other running applications. This vulnerability particularly affects systems running Mac OS X 10.5.5 where the error recovery mechanisms have not been properly implemented to handle exceptional conditions during Desktop file processing. The issue represents a fundamental flaw in the application's defensive programming practices and demonstrates the importance of proper exception handling and resource management in system components that process user-supplied data. The vulnerability's impact is significant enough that it requires immediate attention and system updates to prevent exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3643 focus primarily on applying the appropriate system updates and patches released by Apple to address the specific error recovery flaw in the Finder application. Users should ensure their Mac OS X systems are updated to version 10.5.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring procedures to detect unusual Finder process behavior and consider restricting the processing of untrusted Desktop files in enterprise environments. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and error handling in system components, and organizations should review their own application development practices to prevent similar issues. Security controls should include regular system patch management processes and user education regarding the risks of processing untrusted files. Network administrators may also consider implementing file type restrictions or sandboxing mechanisms to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in compromised environments. The fix implemented by Apple addresses the core error recovery mechanism, ensuring that malformed Desktop files no longer trigger the continuous restart cycle and maintain proper system stability during icon generation processes.