CVE-2010-0037 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Image RAW in Apple Mac OS X 10.5.8 and 10.6.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted DNG image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0037 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Apple's Image RAW processing component that affects Mac OS X versions 10.5.8 and 10.6.2. This issue specifically targets the handling of Digital Negative (DNG) image files, which are raw image formats commonly used in professional photography and digital imaging applications. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the image processing pipeline that processes these specialized file formats.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the Image RAW component processes malformed DNG files that contain oversized or malformed metadata fields. When the system attempts to parse these crafted image files, the insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated memory buffer boundaries. This memory corruption can be strategically exploited to overwrite critical program execution structures including return addresses and function pointers, enabling remote code execution. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because DNG files are commonly shared through various digital channels and can be encountered during routine image processing operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, typically resulting in complete system takeover or persistent backdoor installation. The remote exploitation capability means that adversaries can deliver malicious DNG files through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms without requiring local access to the target system. Additionally, the vulnerability can be used to trigger denial of service conditions that render the imaging application unusable, disrupting legitimate workflows in professional photography and graphic design environments.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious code through the compromised imaging application. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling automatic image preview for potentially malicious files, implementing network-based restrictions on DNG file handling, and applying the latest security patches from Apple. System administrators should also consider network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious file transfers involving raw image formats to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in multimedia processing components and highlights the need for robust memory safety practices in image handling libraries.