Apple Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server kernel error code execution

macos-kernel-code-execution (29281) The risk level is classified as MediumMedium Risk

Description:

Apple Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server could allow a local attacker to gain elevated privileges on the system, caused by a vulnerability in the handling of the Kernel Mach Exception ports mechanism. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to inject code into SUID processes which could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system with root privileges.

Platforms Affected:

  • Apple, Mac OS X 10.4
  • Apple, Mac OS X 10.4.1
  • Apple, Mac OS X 10.4.10
  • Apple, Mac OS X 10.4.11
  • Apple, Mac OS X 10.4.2
  • Apple, Mac OS X 10.4.3
  • Apple, Mac OS X 10.4.4
  • Apple, Mac OS X 10.4.5
  • Apple, Mac OS X 10.4.6
  • Apple, Mac OS X 10.4.7
  • Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.4
  • Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.4.1
  • Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.4.10
  • Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.4.11
  • Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.4.2
  • Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.4.3
  • Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.4.4
  • Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.4.5
  • Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.4.6
  • Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.4.7

Remedy:

Apply Apple Security Update 2006-006 or Mac OS X 10.4.8 Update, available from the Apple Web site. See References.

Consequences:

Gain Privileges

References:

  • BugTraq Mailing List, Fri Sep 29 2006 - 16:12:54 CDT , Matasano Advisory: MacOS X Mach Exception Server Privilege Escalation at http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/bugtraq/2006-09/0505.html.
  • Mac OS X 10.4.8 and Security Update 2006-006, About the security content of the Mac OS X 10.4.8 Update and Security Update 2006-006 at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304460.
  • US-CERT Technical Cyber Security Alert TA06-275A, Multiple Vulnerabilities in Apple and Adobe Products at http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA06-275A.html.
  • BID-20271: Apple Mac OS X Pre 10.4.8 Multiple Security Vulnerabilities
  • CVE-2006-4392: The Mach kernel, as used in operating systems including (1) Mac OS X 10.4 through 10.4.7 and (2) OpenStep before 4.2, allows local users to gain privileges via a parent process that forces an exception in a setuid child and uses Mach exception ports to modify the child's thread context and task address space in a way that causes the child to call a parent-controlled function.
  • FrSIRT/ADV-2006-3852: Apple Mac OS X Multiple Command Execution and Denial of Service Vulnerabilities
  • OSVDB ID: 29269: Mac OS X Kernel Mach Exception Ports Local Privilege Escalation
  • SA22187: Mac OS X Security Update Fixes Multiple Vulnerabilities
  • SECTRACK ID: 1016954: Mac OS X Mach Kernel Exception Error Lets Local Users Gain Elevated Privileges
  • US-CERT VU#838404: Apple kernel exception handling vulnerability

Reported:

Sep 29, 2006

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