CVE-2011-0208 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
QuickLook in Apple Mac OS X 10.6 before 10.6.8 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted Microsoft Office document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0208 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within QuickLook, Apple's native file preview feature available in Mac OS X 10.6 versions prior to 10.6.8. This vulnerability resides in the way QuickLook processes Microsoft Office documents, specifically when these documents are opened through the preview function. The flaw enables remote attackers to craft malicious Office files that, when processed by QuickLook, can trigger memory corruption conditions leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability affects the operating system's file preview functionality, which is designed to provide users with quick access to document contents without fully opening the application, making it a particularly dangerous vector for exploitation.
QuickLook operates as a background service that handles file previews across various document formats, including Microsoft Office documents such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing and rendering of these Office documents within QuickLook's preview context, where insufficient input validation and memory handling mechanisms allow attackers to manipulate the preview process. This flaw specifically targets the buffer management and memory allocation routines used by QuickLook when processing Office document structures, creating opportunities for stack or heap corruption that can be leveraged to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running QuickLook. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-125, out-of-bounds read, which are commonly exploited in file processing applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0208 extends beyond simple application crashes, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise. Attackers can craft specially designed Office documents that, when viewed in QuickLook, will execute arbitrary code on the target system. This capability allows for privilege escalation, persistence mechanisms, and potential lateral movement within networks where affected systems exist. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because QuickLook is integrated into the macOS user interface and automatically previews files when users navigate through folders or open documents, making exploitation possible through simple file browsing or email attachments. The denial of service component can also be leveraged to disrupt normal system operations, creating a more comprehensive attack surface that affects both availability and confidentiality of system resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0208 primarily involve immediate system updates to Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later versions where Apple has implemented patches addressing the memory corruption issues in QuickLook. Organizations should also implement network-based controls such as email filtering to prevent potentially malicious Office documents from reaching users, particularly those that might trigger QuickLook previews. Security administrators should disable QuickLook previews for sensitive or untrusted file types, and consider implementing sandboxing measures to limit the potential impact of exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and script interpreter usage and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, making it a significant concern for enterprise security postures. Additional defensive measures include regular security assessments of macOS systems to identify unpatched versions and monitoring for suspicious QuickLook-related processes or memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.