CVE-2011-1049 in IDA
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Mach-O input file loader in Hex-Rays IDA Pro 5.7 and 6.0 allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted Macho-O file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1049 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Mach-O file format loader component of Hex-Rays IDA Pro versions 5.7 and 6.0. This issue resides in the binary analysis tool's ability to process Mach-O (Mac OS X Mach object file format) input files, which are commonly used for executable and shared library files on macOS and iOS systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during the parsing of Mach-O headers and section data structures, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered when processing malformed input files.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the IDA Pro application attempts to parse a specially crafted Mach-O file that contains maliciously constructed header values or section offsets that exceed the allocated buffer space. This flaw operates at the level of memory management within the application's file parsing routines, where the software fails to validate the size parameters of various Mach-O structure elements including load commands, segment headers, and section headers. The overflow can be triggered by manipulating the Mach-O file's internal metadata, particularly the command count fields and size specifications that define how much data should be read into memory buffers. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through command and scripting interpreters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution, making it particularly dangerous for security researchers and analysts who frequently process unknown or untrusted binary files. When exploited, the buffer overflow can cause IDA Pro to crash and terminate unexpectedly, but more concerning is the potential for attackers to craft malicious Mach-O files that could overwrite critical memory regions including return addresses, function pointers, or other control flow data. This enables an attacker to redirect execution flow and potentially inject arbitrary code into the running IDA Pro process, especially when the application is used in automated analysis environments or when analysts unknowingly open malicious files. The vulnerability affects both IDA Pro 5.7 and 6.0 versions, indicating it was present across a significant portion of the application's user base during that time period.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1049 should focus on immediate patching of affected IDA Pro versions, as Hex-Rays released updates to address the buffer overflow conditions in subsequent releases. Organizations should implement strict file validation procedures before processing binary files in analysis environments, including the use of sandboxed execution environments and automated malware analysis tools. Security practitioners should also consider implementing network-based restrictions that prevent the automatic downloading or opening of Mach-O files from untrusted sources. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in binary analysis tools and highlights how even specialized reverse engineering software can contain memory corruption flaws that can be exploited by attackers. Additionally, defensive measures should include monitoring for unusual application behavior, implementing application whitelisting where possible, and ensuring that security updates are applied promptly to all instances of IDA Pro in use. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that binary analysis tools, while essential for cybersecurity operations, can themselves become attack vectors when not properly secured against malformed input processing.