CVE-2010-3798 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in xar in Apple Mac OS X 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 xar archive.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3798 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in the xar archive utility component of Apple Mac OS X 10.6.x systems prior to version 10.6.5. This flaw exists within the xar archive handling mechanism, which is responsible for processing xar (eXtensible Archive Format) files that are commonly used for packaging and archiving data on macOS systems. The vulnerability specifically affects the memory management routines within the xar utility, creating a condition where attacker-controlled input can overwrite adjacent memory locations in the heap allocation space. The flaw stems from insufficient bounds checking during the parsing of maliciously crafted xar archive structures, allowing an attacker to manipulate heap metadata and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected process. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely through the processing of malicious archive files, making it a significant threat to system integrity and availability. The issue falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite heap data structures. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a substantial risk of both remote code execution and denial of service attacks, as the overflow can corrupt critical heap metadata and cause application crashes or system instability. The attack surface is broad since xar archives are commonly used in various contexts including software distribution, backup operations, and system packaging. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous when considering the ATT&CK framework's T1203 technique for legitimate program execution, where attackers can leverage the xar utility to execute malicious payloads. The heap overflow condition can be triggered when the xar utility processes specially crafted archive headers that contain oversized data fields or malformed structures, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to gain control over the execution flow. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes as the vulnerability can be leveraged to escalate privileges and establish persistent access to affected systems. Apple addressed this vulnerability in version 10.6.5 through improved bounds checking and memory validation routines within the xar processing code, which prevents the overflow condition from occurring when malformed archive structures are encountered. The fix involved implementing stricter input validation and ensuring that heap allocations are properly bounded to prevent overflow conditions. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader threat landscape that includes similar heap-based buffer overflow issues, and should implement proper system hardening measures including regular patch management and monitoring for suspicious archive processing activities. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation attempts targeting the xar utility and ensure that all systems are updated to versions that contain the necessary security patches to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.