CVE-2010-3785 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in QuickLook in Apple Mac OS X 10.5.8 and 10.6.x before 10.6.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted Microsoft Office document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3785 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Apple's QuickLook framework, which is an integral component of Mac OS X operating systems. This vulnerability affects versions 10.5.8 and 10.6.x prior to 10.6.5, creating a significant security risk that enables remote attackers to exploit the system through maliciously crafted Microsoft Office documents. The QuickLook service is designed to provide instant previews of files without opening them in their respective applications, making it a frequently accessed system component that amplifies the potential impact of this vulnerability.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation within QuickLook's handling of Microsoft Office document formats. When a user attempts to preview a crafted document through QuickLook, the application fails to properly bounds-check memory allocations, leading to a buffer overflow condition. This occurs because the system does not adequately validate the structure and size of Office document elements before processing them, allowing an attacker to craft malicious content that exceeds the allocated buffer space. The overflow can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical system data or executing arbitrary code within the context of the QuickLook process. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation leading to memory corruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3785 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, effectively bypassing many traditional security controls that rely on application sandboxing. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no user interaction beyond viewing the malicious document in a preview context, making it a prime candidate for phishing campaigns or targeted attacks against unsuspecting users. The vulnerability can be exploited through various Microsoft Office formats including doc, xls, and ppt files, which are commonly shared in business environments, increasing the attack surface significantly. This flaw directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3785 should prioritize immediate system updates to the patched versions of Mac OS X 10.6.5 or later, as Apple released security updates specifically addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should implement network-level controls to block or scan Office document attachments from untrusted sources, reducing the likelihood of successful exploitation. System administrators should consider disabling QuickLook previews for sensitive file types or implementing additional sandboxing measures around the QuickLook service. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date system patches and highlights the risks associated with preview services that process untrusted content without adequate input sanitization. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual QuickLook activity or process behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education about the risks of previewing unknown Office documents and the potential for automatic preview execution in Mac OS X environments should be emphasized to reduce successful attack vectors.