CVE-2009-2830 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in Christos Zoulas file before 5.03 in Apple Mac OS X 10.6.x before 10.6.2 allow user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted Common Document Format (CDF) file. NOTE: this might overlap CVE-2009-1515.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2830 represents a critical buffer overflow issue affecting the file utility in Apple Mac OS X 10.6.x systems prior to version 10.6.2. This flaw resides within the file command implementation that processes Common Document Format files, which are commonly used for document exchange between different applications and platforms. The vulnerability specifically impacts the handling of malformed CDF files that contain oversized or improperly structured data elements, creating conditions where memory allocation becomes insufficient to accommodate the incoming data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the file utility's parsing routines for CDF file structures. When processing a specially crafted CDF file, the application fails to properly validate the size and structure of data elements before attempting to copy them into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability operates through a user-assisted remote attack vector, meaning that an attacker must convince a user to open a maliciously crafted CDF file, typically through social engineering or phishing techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the file utility, which typically operates with standard user privileges on Mac OS X systems. The denial of service aspect manifests as application crashes that can be leveraged to disrupt legitimate system operations, while the arbitrary code execution capability provides a pathway for more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation or persistent system compromise. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where users frequently handle document files from untrusted sources, making it a significant concern for enterprise and personal computing environments alike.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2830 primarily focus on applying the official security patches released by Apple, specifically updating to Mac OS X 10.6.2 or later versions that contain the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive timely updates, particularly given the user-assisted nature of the attack vector. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of the file utility with untrusted inputs, deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious CDF file patterns, and educating users about the risks of opening documents from unknown or untrusted sources. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques to isolate file processing operations and limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient space is allocated for data, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of software vulnerabilities. The attack chain typically involves initial compromise through social engineering to deliver a malicious CDF file, followed by exploitation of the buffer overflow to execute malicious code. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in preventing such critical security flaws. Security professionals should note the potential overlap with CVE-2009-1515, indicating that similar vulnerabilities may exist in related software components, requiring comprehensive vulnerability assessments across the entire software ecosystem. The remediation process should also include regular security audits of file processing utilities and implementation of automated security scanning to detect similar issues in custom applications that handle file format parsing.