Apple Mac OS X Networking component AppleTalk mbuf buffer overflow

macosx-networking-mbuf-bo (38476) The risk level is classified as HighHigh Risk

Description:

The Apple Mac OS X Networking component is vulnerable to a heap-based buffer overflow, caused by improper bounds checking by the function that allocates mbufs. By sending a specially-crafted AppleTalk request containing a negative value, a local attacker could overflow a buffer and execute arbitrary code on the system with kernel level privileges or cause the system to crash.

Note: In order to exploit this vulnerability, AppleTalk must be enabled. This is not the default configuration.

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 AppleTalk mbuf Kernel Heap Overflow Vulnerability at http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/display.php?id=628.
  • BID-26444: Apple Mac OS X v10.4.11 2007-008 Multiple Security Vulnerabilities
  • CVE-2007-4268: Integer signedness error in the Networking component in Apple Mac OS X 10.4 through 10.4.10 allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a crafted AppleTalk message with a negative value, which satisfies a signed comparison during mbuf allocation but is later interpreted as an unsigned value, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
  • SA27643: Apple Mac OS X Security Update Fixes Multiple Vulnerabilities
  • SECTRACK ID: 1018950: Mac OS X Kernel and Networking Bugs Let Remote and Local Users Deny Service or Execute Arbitrary Code
  • VUPEN/ADV-2007-3868: Apple Mac OS X Command Execution and Denial of Service Vulnerabilities

Reported:

Nov 14, 2007

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