TippingPoint Zero Day Initiative
 

Apple OS X ATSServer Compact Font Format Parsing Memory Corruption Vulnerability

ZDI-09-023: May 13th, 2009

CVE ID

Affected Vendors

Affected Products

Vulnerability Details

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Apple OS X. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.

The specific flaw appears to exist in the ATSServer font server upon parsing of malicious Compact Font Format files. A boundary condition exists in the parsing of internal dictionaries that can lead to a memory corruption allowing the execution of arbitrary code.

Vendor Response

Apple has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at:

Disclosure Timeline

    2009-03-19 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
    2009-05-13 - Coordinated public release of advisory

Credit

This vulnerability was discovered by:
    Charlie Miller, Independent Security Evaluators