search menu icon-carat-right cmu-wordmark

CERT Coordination Center

Apple Mac OS X Finder fails to properly handle malformed .DS_Store files

Vulnerability Note VU#258744

Original Release Date: 2006-11-29 | Last Revised: 2006-11-30

Overview

Apple Finder fails to properly handle malformed .DS_Store files. This vulnerability may allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code.

Description

.DS_Store files are hidden files used by Apple Finder to control the display of a folder and its contents.

According to Apple Security Advisory 2006-007:

A heap buffer overflow may be triggered when the Finder is used to browse a directory containing a corrupt ".DS_Store" file. By enticing a user to browse a directory containing a maliciously-crafted ".DS_Store" file, an attacker may be able to trigger the overflow. This could lead to an application crash or arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running Finder. ".DS_Store" files may be included in archives, on disk images, and on network file systems.

Impact

A remote, unauthenticated attacker may be able to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Apple Finder.

Solution

Apply Apple Updates

Apple advises all users to apply Apple Security Update 2006-007, as it fixes this and other critical security flaws.

Vendor Information

258744
 

Apple Computer, Inc. Affected

Updated:  November 29, 2006

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

We have not received a statement from the vendor.

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

Refer to http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304829.

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us email.


CVSS Metrics

Group Score Vector
Base
Temporal
Environmental

References

Acknowledgements

This vulnerability was reported in Apple Security Update 2006-007.

This document was written by Jeff Gennari based on information from Apple.

Other Information

CVE IDs: CVE-2006-4402
Severity Metric: 26.33
Date Public: 2006-11-28
Date First Published: 2006-11-29
Date Last Updated: 2006-11-30 16:33 UTC
Document Revision: 31

Sponsored by CISA.