iDefense Security Advisory 12.17.07: Apple Mac OS X mount_smbfs Stack Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
iDefense Security Advisory 12.17.07
http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/
Dec 17, 2007
I. BACKGROUND
The mount_smbfs utility is used to mount a remote SMB share locally. It
is installed set-uid root, so as to allow unprivileged users to mount
shares, and is present in a default installation on both the Server and
Desktop versions of Mac OS X. For more information visit the following
URL.
http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManPages/man8/mount_smbfs.8.html
II. DESCRIPTION
Local exploitation of a stack based buffer overflow vulnerability in
Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X mount_smbfs utility could allow an attacker to
execute arbitrary code with root privileges.
The vulnerability exists in a portion of code responsible for parsing
command line arguments. When processing the -W option, which is used to
specify a workgroup name, the option's argument is copied into a fixed
sized stack buffer without any checks on its length. This leads to a
trivially exploitable stack based buffer overflow.
III. ANALYSIS
Exploitation of this vulnerability results in the execution of arbitrary
code with root privileges. In order to exploit this vulnerability, an
attacker must have execute permission for the set-uid root mount_smbfs
binary.
IV. DETECTION
iDefense has confirmed the existence of this vulnerability in Mac OS X
version 10.4.10, on both the Server and Desktop versions. Previous
versions may also be affected.
V. WORKAROUND
Removing the set-uid bit from the mount_smbfs binary will prevent
exploitation. However, non-root users will be unable to use the
program.
VI. VENDOR RESPONSE
Apple addressed this vulnerability within their Mac OS X 2007-009
security update. More information is available at the following URL.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307179
VII. CVE INFORMATION
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the
name CVE-2007-3876 to this issue. This is a candidate for inclusion in
the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org/), which standardizes names for
security problems.
VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE
07/16/2007 Initial vendor notification
07/17/2007 Initial vendor response
12/17/2007 Coordinated public disclosure
IX. CREDIT
This vulnerability was discovered by Sean Larsson of VeriSign iDefense
Labs.
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X. LEGAL NOTICES
Copyright © 2007 iDefense, Inc.
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at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use
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