CVE-2009-0145 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
CoreGraphics in Apple Mac OS X 10.4.11 and 10.5 before 10.5.7, iPhone OS 1.0 through 2.2.1, and iPhone OS for iPod touch 1.1 through 2.2.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted PDF file that triggers memory corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0145 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's CoreGraphics framework that affected multiple operating systems including Mac OS X and iPhone OS versions. This vulnerability resides in the PDF processing capabilities of these systems, specifically when handling malformed or crafted PDF files that contain maliciously constructed data structures. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the system through network-based delivery of malicious PDF content, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Apple products including Macintosh computers running OS X 10.4.11 and 10.5 versions prior to 10.5.7, as well as various iPhone and iPod touch devices running iOS versions from 1.0 through 2.2.1. The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer overflow scenario where insufficient input validation and memory management in the PDF rendering engine allows attackers to manipulate memory contents and execute malicious code.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions, and CWE-787, which covers "Out-of-bounds Write" scenarios, both of which are common in memory corruption vulnerabilities. The flaw occurs when CoreGraphics processes PDF files containing specially crafted elements that cause the system to allocate insufficient memory for processing or to write data beyond allocated buffer boundaries. This memory corruption can be leveraged to manipulate program execution flow, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered remotely through web-based PDF content, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise user systems without requiring physical access or direct interaction with the target device.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations and individual users who may encounter malicious PDF files through email attachments, web browsing, or file downloads from untrusted sources. The impact ranges from potential system crashes that result in denial of service to complete system compromise where attackers can execute arbitrary code on affected devices. The widespread adoption of affected operating systems means that a large user base could be vulnerable to exploitation, particularly in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently download or open malicious PDF files. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can potentially compromise systems without user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for mobile devices that frequently connect to public networks and web services.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to address this vulnerability, as Apple released security updates for all supported versions of Mac OS X and iPhone OS. The mitigation strategy should include implementing network-based controls such as PDF file filtering at firewalls and email gateways to prevent potentially malicious PDF files from reaching end users. Additionally, user education regarding safe browsing practices and the importance of keeping software updated should be emphasized. System administrators should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement application whitelisting where possible to prevent execution of unauthorized code. The vulnerability's classification under the MITRE ATT&CK framework would place it within the Tactic of Execution, specifically under techniques related to command and control communication and code injection, making it a significant concern for incident response teams and security operations centers that must prepare for potential exploitation attempts targeting these vulnerable systems.