CVE-2008-3647

Buffer overflow in PSNormalizer in Mac OS X 10.4.11 and 10.5.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application termination) and execute…

published October 10, 2008

CVSS
—
EPSS
5%
Percentile
91.8
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ An unsuspecting PostScript file can literally trip up your Mac! This buffer overflow in PSNormalizer could lead to application crashes or even worse mischief. 😱 Think of PSNormalizer as a delivery system for documents. If a delivery driver is handed a package that's way too big for their vehicle, it can cause a mess—just like this vulnerability can lead to unexpected crashes and disruptions. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to send a malicious PostScript file that crashes applications on your Mac, possibly leading to loss of unsaved work. In a worst-case scenario, it could even allow them to execute arbitrary code, paving the way for further exploits!

Put simply

Think of PSNormalizer as a delivery system for documents. If a delivery driver is handed a package that's way too big for their vehicle, it can cause a mess—just like this vulnerability can lead to unexpected crashes and disruptions. This buffer overflow occurs because PSNormalizer mishandles bounding box comments within PostScript files, leading to potential application termination and remote code execution.

What to do

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to send a malicious PostScript file that crashes applications on your Mac, possibly leading to loss of unsaved work. In a worst-case scenario, it could even allow them to execute arbitrary code, paving the way for further exploits! To mitigate this risk, ensure your Mac OS X is updated to a version beyond 10.5.5. Though this particular vulnerability isn't currently known to be actively exploited, keeping your system up-to-date is always a wise move. Regularly review application permissions and avoid opening suspicious files. You've got this! With these updates, you'll keep your Mac safe and sound. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.04756 · 91.8th percentile
Published
2008-10-10T10:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 10 OCT 10:00Z
    Buffer overflow in PSNormalizer in Mac OS X 10.4.11 and 10.5.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application termination) and execute…
    cvelistv5