# CVE-2003-0171: Command injection in n/a

> Local attackers can execute arbitrary commands by manipulating the PATH environment variable to hijack the touch command in MacOS X DirectoryServices.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 15 Apr 2003
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5xwf-7w8g-23wm

## What is CVE-2003-0171?

CVE-2003-0171 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 15 Apr 2003. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

DirectoryServices in MacOS X trusts the PATH environment variable to locate and execute the touch command, which allows local users to execute arbitrary commands by modifying the PATH to point to a directory containing a malicious touch program.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2003-0171?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Apple Mac Os X, Apple Mac Os X Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2003-0171?

No fix has been published for CVE-2003-0171 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2003-0171 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2003-0171 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Apple Mac OSX 10.2.4 - DirectoryService 'PATH' Local Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Mac Os X

- [CVE-2014-7169](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7169/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6271](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6271/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2012-1823](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1823/): PHP-CGI Query String Parameter (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30713](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30713/): Apple macOS Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-8526](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8526/): Apple macOS Use-After-Free (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2003-0171 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2003-0171 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 15 Apr 2003. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2003-0171 exists.

Affected product: Apple Mac Os X. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0171/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0171/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2003-0171
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2003-0171
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2003-0171

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0171/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.