CVE-2011-0196 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
AirPort in Apple Mac OS X 10.5.8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read and reboot) via Wi-Fi frames on the local wireless network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-0196 represents a critical security flaw in Apple Mac OS X 10.5.8's AirPort wireless networking implementation that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through carefully crafted Wi-Fi frames transmitted over local wireless networks. This vulnerability specifically affects the wireless network interface driver and operating system components responsible for processing incoming wireless frames, creating a scenario where malicious actors can exploit improper input validation mechanisms within the wireless stack. The flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when the system attempts to process malformed or specially constructed wireless frames, leading to system instability and eventual reboot of affected Macintosh computers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the wireless frame processing code, which fails to properly validate the length and structure of incoming Wi-Fi frames before attempting to parse their contents. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious frames that contain data exceeding expected buffer sizes, causing the system to read memory locations beyond allocated boundaries. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-129 Input Validation and OWASP Top Ten category A05: Security Misconfiguration, as it represents a failure to properly validate input data from network sources. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1499.004 Network Denial of Service, demonstrating how attackers can leverage wireless protocol weaknesses to disrupt system availability.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0196 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be exploited in environments where wireless networks are prevalent and where unauthorized access to local wireless networks is possible. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to repeatedly reboot target systems, effectively creating a persistent denial of service condition that can disrupt business operations, compromise user productivity, and potentially serve as a vector for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in corporate environments where Mac systems may be connected to shared wireless networks, as it requires no special privileges or authentication to exploit. Organizations running Mac OS X 10.5.8 systems are particularly vulnerable since this version predates many of the security improvements that would have prevented such out-of-bounds memory access conditions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to newer versions of Mac OS X that include patched wireless networking drivers and improved input validation mechanisms. Apple released security updates that addressed this specific flaw by implementing proper bounds checking in wireless frame processing and by enhancing memory management routines to prevent out-of-bounds reads. Network administrators should also consider implementing wireless network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack vectors, while monitoring for suspicious wireless activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping operating systems updated and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in network protocol implementations can have significant security implications, particularly when they affect core system components that handle untrusted network input.