CVE-2010-0543 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
ImageIO in Apple Mac OS X 10.5.8, and 10.6 before 10.6.2, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted movie file with MPEG2 encoding.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0543 represents a critical security flaw in Apple Mac OS X operating systems, specifically affecting versions 10.5.8 and earlier releases of 10.6 before 10.6.2. This issue resides within the ImageIO framework which serves as a core component for handling various image and movie file formats on macOS systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the MPEG2 decoding implementation, creating a potential attack vector that adversaries can exploit remotely to gain unauthorized code execution privileges or cause system instability through denial of service conditions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a maliciously crafted movie file containing MPEG2 encoding is processed by the affected ImageIO framework. The flaw manifests as improper bounds checking and memory allocation handling during the parsing of specific MPEG2 stream structures, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the affected application. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can result in memory corruption and potentially arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning as it operates at the kernel level within the operating system's image processing capabilities, making it accessible through common media file handling operations that users might encounter daily.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-0543 extends beyond simple application crashes, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through various delivery mechanisms including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites that serve the crafted movie files. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that no user interaction is required beyond opening the malicious file, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or drive-by download attacks. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1059 for command and control communication and T1203 for exploitation for execution, as it provides a pathway for persistent access and privilege escalation within compromised systems.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the official security patches released by Apple, specifically the Mac OS X 10.6.2 update and subsequent security releases that address the memory corruption issues in the ImageIO framework. System administrators should prioritize immediate deployment of these patches across all affected systems to prevent exploitation. Additionally, network administrators can implement content filtering measures to block or scan for known malicious movie file formats, though this approach is less effective given the vulnerability's ability to be embedded within legitimate-looking media files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices, as highlighted in industry best practices for secure coding standards. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and application whitelisting policies to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted media content from external sources.