CVE-2009-1235
XNU 1228.9.59 and earlier on Apple Mac OS X 10.5.6 and earlier does not properly restrict interaction between user space and the HFS IOCTL handler, which allows local users to overwrite kernel memory and gain privileges by attaching an HFS+ disk image…
Does this matter?
A public exploit is published in Exploit-DB (verified) and the impact is high, while EPSS rates exploitation at 1.0%. Anyone can run this; patch or mitigate before the next change window and check exposed instances for signs of use.
Description
XNU 1228.9.59 and earlier on Apple Mac OS X 10.5.6 and earlier does not properly restrict interaction between user space and the HFS IOCTL handler, which allows local users to overwrite kernel memory and gain privileges by attaching an HFS+ disk image and performing certain steps involving HFS_GET_BOOT_INFO fcntl calls.
- CVSS 2.0
- 7.2 HIGHAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
- EPSS
- 0.98% probability · 62th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 23 March 2009
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-264
- Affected
- apple/mac os x · apple/mac os x server
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 1.0% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/Aug/msg00001.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/34424
- http://secunia.com/advisories/36096
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3757
- http://www.digit-labs.org/files/exploits/xnu-hfs-fcntl-v2.cExploit
- http://www.digit-labs.org/files/exploits/xnu-hfs-fcntl-v2.shExploit
- http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/mac/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=216401181
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/34203Exploit
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1022671
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-218A.htmlUS Government Resource
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/0822Vendor Advisory
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2172
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/8266
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/Aug/msg00001.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/34424
- http://secunia.com/advisories/36096
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3757
- http://www.digit-labs.org/files/exploits/xnu-hfs-fcntl-v2.cExploit
- http://www.digit-labs.org/files/exploits/xnu-hfs-fcntl-v2.shExploit
- http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/mac/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=216401181
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/34203Exploit
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1022671
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-218A.htmlUS Government Resource
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/0822Vendor Advisory
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2172
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/8266
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.