[NEWS] Mac OS X launchd Race Condition Vulnerability

From: SecuriTeam (support_at_securiteam.com)
Date: 06/14/05

  • Next message: SecuriTeam: "[EXPL] MacOS X launchd Race Condition (Exploit)"
    To: list@securiteam.com
    Date: 14 Jun 2005 18:55:49 +0200
    
    

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      Mac OS X launchd Race Condition Vulnerability
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SUMMARY

    "launchd manages daemons, both for the system as a whole and for
    individual users. Ideal daemons can launch on demand based on criteria
    specified in their respective XML property lists located in one of the
    directories specified in the FILES section.
    During boot launchd is invoked by the kernel to run as the first process
    on the system and to further bootstrap the rest of the system."

    By replacing file sockets used by launchd with symbolic links to a file
    that the attacker does not have access to, it is possible to gain
    ownership of this file or run code with root privileges.

    DETAILS

    Vulnerable Systems:
     * Mac OS X version 10.4

    Immune Systems:
     * Mac OS X version 10.4.1
     * Mac OS X Server version 10.4.11

    The launchd tool, when invoked, uses the launchd_server_init() function to
    set up temporary files in the /tmp directory. It first creates a directory
    with the name of the invoking user's current uid. It then uses the chown()
    function to modify the ownership of the directory to belong to the
    invoking user.
    After this has occurred a socket (file) is created inside this directory
    and the chown() function is again called to give this file ownership
    permissions of the invoking user.

    A race condition exists here. If a malicious user removes the newly
    created socket and replaces it with a symbolic link to any file which
    they don't own. If this is timed to be in between the function call to
    create the socket, and the chown() call the symbolic link will be
    followed. This gives the malicious user the ability to effectively "steal"
    the ownership of any file or directory on the system.

    Successful exploitation of this vulnerability will allow a malicious user
    to "steal" ownership of any file on the system. Using this to gain access
    to a root shell is a trivial process.

    Vendor Status:
    Information about vendor update can be found at:
    <http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301742>
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301742

    CVE Information:
     <http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2005-1725>
    CAN-2005-1725

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    The information has been provided by <mailto:advisories@suresec.org>
    Suresec Advisories.
    The original article can be found at:
    <http://www.suresec.org/advisories/adv3.pdf>
    http://www.suresec.org/advisories/adv3.pdf

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