Apple Mac OS X kernel Mach Port privilege escalation

macosx-mach-privilege-escalation (38466) The risk level is classified as HighHigh Risk

Description:

The Apple Mac OS X kernel could allow a local attacker to gain elevated privileges on the system, caused by improper handling of the Mach thread port and thread exception port when a setuid application is executed. By creating a Mach port and executing a setuid application, a local attacker could exploit this vulnerability to write arbitrary data in the address space of the setuid process, which could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the process.

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 10.4.2
  • 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 10.4.8
  • Apple, Mac OS X 10.4.9
  • 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 10.4.2
  • 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
  • Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.4.8
  • Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.4.9

Remedy:

Apply Apple Security Update 2007-008 or upgrade to the latest version of Mac OS X (10.4.11 or later), available from the Apple Web site. See References.

Consequences:

Gain Privileges

References:

  • Apple Web site, About the security content of Mac OS X 10.4.11 and Security Update 2007-008 at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307041.
  • iDefense Labs PUBLIC ADVISORY: 11.14.07, Apple Mac OS X Mach Port Inheritance Privilege Escalation Vulnerability at http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/display.php?id=630.
  • BID-26444: Apple Mac OS X v10.4.11 2007-008 Multiple Security Vulnerabilities
  • CVE-2007-3749: The kernel in Apple Mac OS X 10.4 through 10.4.10 does not reset the current Mach Thread Port or Thread Exception Port when executing a setuid program, which allows local users to execute arbitrary code by creating the port before launching the setuid program, then writing to the address space of the setuid process.
  • FrSIRT/ADV-2007-3868: Apple Mac OS X Command Execution and Denial of Service Vulnerabilities
  • SA27643: Apple Mac OS X Security Update Fixes Multiple Vulnerabilities

Reported:

Nov 14, 2007

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