CVE-2011-0181 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in ImageIO in Apple Mac OS X before 10.6.7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted XBM image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0181 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within Apple Mac OS X ImageIO framework affecting versions prior to 10.6.7. This issue specifically targets the handling of XBM image format processing, which is a bitmap image format commonly used for storing simple black and white images. The vulnerability resides in how the ImageIO framework processes certain metadata or image dimensions within XBM files, creating conditions where maliciously crafted image data can trigger unexpected behavior in the underlying memory management systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through integer overflow conditions that arise when processing XBM image files containing specially crafted dimensions or metadata values. When the ImageIO framework attempts to parse these malformed XBM images, it performs arithmetic operations on image dimension values that exceed the maximum representable value for the integer type being used. This overflow condition causes the application to allocate insufficient memory or to interpret memory addresses incorrectly, leading to potential code execution or application instability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 as an integer overflow, which is a well-documented weakness in software systems where arithmetic operations produce values that exceed the maximum value that can be represented by the target data type.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to macOS users as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems simply by enticing a user to open a maliciously crafted XBM image file. The attack vector is particularly concerning because XBM files can be embedded in web pages, email attachments, or shared via file transfer protocols, making exploitation relatively straightforward. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise or denial of service conditions where legitimate applications crash and become unavailable. The impact extends beyond individual users to enterprise environments where macOS systems may be targeted through phishing campaigns or compromised websites that serve malicious image content.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is broad due to the widespread use of ImageIO framework across macOS applications, including Safari web browser, Preview application, and various image processing tools that rely on the framework for image handling. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through multiple delivery mechanisms, such as malicious websites that display XBM images, email attachments, or file sharing platforms where users might inadvertently open compromised image files. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068 suggests it can be used as a privilege escalation vector, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources or execute malicious payloads with elevated privileges. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to macOS 10.6.7 or later versions, implementing network-based restrictions on XBM file handling, and deploying application whitelisting controls to prevent unauthorized image processing operations. Additionally, security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual image processing activities and memory allocation patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, with particular attention to system logs showing crashes or abnormal memory usage in ImageIO-related processes.