Apple MacOS X BOMArchiveHelper Directory Traversal Vulnerability

iDefense Security Advisory 03.02.06
http://www.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/display.php?id=399
March 02, 2006

I. BACKGROUND

Mac OS X is an operating system for the Apple family of microcomputers.
More information is available at the following link:

    http://www.apple.com/macosx/

II. DESCRIPTION

Remote exploitation of a directory traversal vulnerability in Apple
Computer Inc.'s MacOS X could allow attackers to overwrite arbitrary
files with user-supplied contents.

III. ANALYSIS


Exploitation could allow a remote attacker to overwrite a file with
user-supplied contents. This can be leveraged to gain code execution on
the target machine by overwriting executable files such as login
scripts.

IV. DETECTION

iDefense has confirmed the existence of this vulnerability in MacOS X
10.4.2. Versions 10.4.5 and earlier of the 10.4.x family and versions
10.3.9 of the 10.3.x family of both Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server are
vulnerable.

V. WORKAROUND

To prevent exploitation from occurring through the Safari web browser,
disable the 'Open safe file types' option in Safari. To achieve this,
within Safari choose Preferences, then choose General, then uncheck the
'Open safe file types' option.

VI. VENDOR RESPONSE

Apple has released Security Update 2006-001 to address this issue:

  http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303382

VII. CVE INFORMATION

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the
name CVE-2006-0391 to this issue.

VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE

This issue was independently discovered by Stéphane Kardas of CERTA and
reported to the vendor.

03/02/2006  Public disclosure

IX. CREDIT

The discoverer of this vulnerability wishes to remain anonymous.

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X. LEGAL NOTICES

Copyright © 2006 iDefense, Inc.

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Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate
at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use
of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition.
There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the
author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect,
or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on,
this information.