CVE-2008-7303 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The nonet and nointernet sandbox profiles in Apple Mac OS X 10.5.x do not propagate restrictions to all created processes, which allows remote attackers to access network resources via a crafted application, as demonstrated by use of launchctl to trigger the launchd daemon s execution of a script file, a related issue to CVE-2011-1516.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-7303 represents a critical sandboxing flaw in Apple Mac OS X 10.5.x operating systems that affects the nonet and nointernet sandbox profiles. This security weakness stems from improper implementation of process restriction mechanisms within the system's security framework, specifically targeting the isolation capabilities that should prevent network access for applications running under these restricted profiles. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in the sandboxing architecture where the intended network access restrictions are not consistently applied across all processes created within the sandboxed environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when applications execute within the nonet and nointernet sandbox profiles, which are designed to prevent network connectivity for security purposes. However, the flaw allows attackers to bypass these restrictions by exploiting the process creation mechanism, specifically through the launchctl utility to trigger execution of launchd daemon components. This creates a pathway where malicious code can leverage the sandboxed environment to gain unauthorized network access, effectively undermining the security controls that should isolate applications from network resources. The vulnerability operates at the system-level process management layer where the sandboxing restrictions are not properly propagated to child processes, creating an attack surface that allows privilege escalation through network access bypass.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network access bypass to encompass broader security implications for system integrity and data protection. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts and potentially establish persistent network connections from within what should be isolated application environments. This capability enables various attack vectors including data exfiltration, command and control communications, and further system compromise through network-based exploitation techniques. The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2011-1516 indicates a pattern of similar sandboxing failures in Apple's security architecture that affects multiple system components and creates persistent attack surfaces.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-257, which addresses the storage of sensitive information in the system, and represents a sandbox escape condition that violates fundamental security principles of process isolation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence through system-level processes, specifically leveraging the launchd daemon execution mechanisms to maintain access. Organizations using affected Mac OS X versions face significant risk of unauthorized network access and potential data breaches through this sandboxing bypass. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical gap in Apple's security model where the intended isolation boundaries are not properly enforced across all process creation scenarios, creating a persistent threat vector that requires immediate remediation through system updates and security patches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems through Apple's security updates and implementation of additional network monitoring controls. System administrators should implement process monitoring to detect unauthorized network access attempts and review sandbox configurations to ensure proper restriction enforcement. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive security testing for sandboxing mechanisms and proper process isolation enforcement. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of system-level processes and daemon execution mechanisms can help identify similar sandboxing issues that may exist in other system components.