Apple Mac OS X up to 10.5.0 ImageIO memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apple Mac OS X up to 10.5.0. It has been rated as critical. The impacted element is an unknown function of the component ImageIO. Performing a manipulation results in memory corruption. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2009-2188. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Apple Mac OS X up to 10.5.0 (Operating System). This affects an unknown function of the component ImageIO. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Buffer overflow in ImageIO in Apple Mac OS X 10.5 before 10.5.8, and Safari before 4.0.3, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via an image with crafted EXIF metadata.

The weakness was disclosed 08/05/2009 by Clint Ruoho with Google Security Team (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at us-cert.gov. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2009-2188. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 05/11/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 40554 (Safari < 4.0.3 Multiple Vulnerabilities), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 116547 (Apple Mac OS X 10.5.8 and Security Update 2009-003 Not Installed (APPLE-SA-2009-08-05-1)).

Upgrading to version 10.5.1 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (52386), Tenable (40554), SecurityFocus (BID 35954†), OSVDB (56842†) and SecurityTracker (ID 1022674†). The entries VDB-3959, VDB-4017, VDB-4132 and VDB-41542 are pretty similar. Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
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NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 40554
Nessus Name: Safari < 4.0.3 Multiple Vulnerabilities
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 102036
OpenVAS Name: get_kb_item(ssh/login/osx_name
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Mac OS X 10.5.1

Timelineinfo

06/24/2009 🔍
08/05/2009 +42 days 🔍
08/05/2009 +0 days 🔍
08/05/2009 +0 days 🔍
08/05/2009 +0 days 🔍
08/06/2009 +1 days 🔍
08/08/2009 +2 days 🔍
08/11/2009 +2 days 🔍
08/16/2009 +5 days 🔍
03/18/2015 +2040 days 🔍
05/11/2025 +3707 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: apple.com

Advisory: us-cert.gov
Researcher: Clint Ruoho
Organization: Google Security Team
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2009-2188 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2009-2188
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-49287
X-Force: 52386
SecurityFocus: 35954 - Apple Mac OS X 2009-003 Multiple Security Vulnerabilities
OSVDB: 56842 - Apple Mac OS X ImageIO Crafted EXIF Metadata Handling Overflow
SecurityTracker: 1022674
Vulnerability Center: 23214 - Apple Mac OS X 10.5-10.5.7, and Safari < 4.0.3 ImageIO Buffer Overflow via a Crafted Image, Critical

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20150108
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/18/2015 15:15
Updated: 05/11/2025 06:17
Changes: 03/18/2015 15:15 (67), 02/13/2017 10:11 (10), 08/13/2021 14:29 (3), 08/13/2021 14:32 (1), 05/11/2025 06:17 (17)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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