CVE-2009-0150 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Apple Mac OS X 10.5 before 10.5.7 allows local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (application crash) by attempting to mount a crafted sparse disk image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0150 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within Apple Mac OS X 10.5 operating system versions prior to 10.5.7. This flaw specifically affects the system's handling of sparse disk images during the mounting process, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation that can result in either privilege escalation or system instability. The vulnerability resides in the kernel-level code responsible for processing disk image metadata, where insufficient input validation leads to memory corruption when parsing malformed sparse disk image structures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the disk image mounting subsystem. When a local user attempts to mount a specially crafted sparse disk image, the system fails to properly validate the size and structure of the image's metadata fields. This allows an attacker to overflow a stack-based buffer allocated for processing the sparse image header information, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates within the privileged context of the kernel, meaning successful exploitation could result in full system compromise rather than just application-level crashes.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for Mac OS X users running affected versions. Local attackers can leverage this flaw to either escalate their privileges to root level access or trigger denial of service conditions that crash applications or even the entire system. The attack vector requires local system access, making it less immediately exploitable than network-based vulnerabilities, but still represents a serious threat in environments where untrusted users have access to system resources. The vulnerability affects all applications that interact with disk image mounting functionality, including the graphical disk utility and command-line tools like hdiutil.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions. The attack pattern corresponds to the ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability has been widely documented and exploited in various security research reports. The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to Mac OS X 10.5.7 or later versions where Apple has implemented proper bounds checking and input validation for sparse disk image processing. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing discretionary access controls and monitoring for unusual disk image mounting activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.