CVE-2010-1379 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Printer Setup in Apple Mac OS X 10.6 before 10.6.4 does not properly interpret character encoding, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (printing failure) by deploying a printing device that has a Unicode character in its printing-service name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-1379 represents a classic case of improper input validation within Apple's Mac OS X operating system, specifically affecting versions prior to 10.6.4. This issue resides in the printer setup functionality where the system fails to properly handle Unicode character encoding during the processing of printing service names. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign character encoding issues can escalate into significant operational disruptions within system services. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of internationalization support and system stability, where the operating system's inability to gracefully handle Unicode characters in service names creates a predictable failure condition. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of encoding-related security weaknesses that have historically plagued operating systems and network services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a fundamental flaw in how Mac OS X processes printer service names containing Unicode characters. When a printing device with a Unicode character in its service name is discovered by the system, the printer setup process fails to properly interpret the character encoding, leading to a complete breakdown in the printing functionality. This failure manifests as a denial of service condition where legitimate print jobs cannot be processed, effectively rendering the printing capabilities of the affected system unusable. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal prerequisites and can be accomplished through the simple deployment of a maliciously named printing device on the network. The flaw demonstrates a lack of proper error handling and input sanitization within the system's printing subsystem, creating a scenario where external input directly influences system stability. This issue aligns with CWE-180, which addresses incorrect behavior in input processing, and specifically relates to improper handling of character encoding in system services.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-1379 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader network management challenges within enterprise environments. Organizations relying on Mac OS X systems for printing operations would experience immediate and significant productivity losses when affected systems encounter printers with Unicode characters in their service names. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that adversaries could potentially deploy malicious printing devices on shared networks to systematically disrupt printing services across multiple systems. This scenario presents particular risk in environments where network printers are automatically discovered and configured, as the vulnerability can be triggered without requiring direct system access or authentication. The denial of service condition affects not only individual user productivity but also broader operational workflows that depend on reliable printing capabilities, potentially creating cascading effects throughout business processes that rely on document output. This vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which involves denial of service through resource consumption or system instability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-1379 primarily focus on updating to Apple's patched version 10.6.4 or later, which addresses the character encoding handling issue within the printer setup process. System administrators should prioritize applying the official security patch from Apple to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. Network administrators should also implement monitoring for unusual printer service discovery patterns that might indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Organizations should consider implementing printer blacklisting policies to prevent automatic connection to unknown or untrusted printing devices. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and encoding handling in system services, particularly those that process external input from networked devices. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls around printing services can help limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider conducting vulnerability assessments to identify systems running unpatched versions of Mac OS X that may be susceptible to this and similar encoding-related issues. The remediation approach emphasizes the need for comprehensive testing of system services when implementing character encoding fixes to ensure that other functionality remains intact.