# CVE-2006-4392: Privilege escalation in n/a

> Local attackers can escalate privileges by exploiting Mach exception ports to modify a setuid child process's execution context.

- **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:** 2 Oct 2006
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2h8f-c5j4-6pq8

## What is CVE-2006-4392?

CVE-2006-4392 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 2 Oct 2006. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Mach kernel, as used in operating systems including (1) Mac OS X 10.4 through 10.4.7 and (2) OpenStep before 4.2, allows local users to gain privileges via a parent process that forces an exception in a setuid child and uses Mach exception ports to modify the child's thread context and task address space in a way that causes the child to call a parent-controlled function.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2006-4392?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Apple Mac Os X, Next Openstep.

## How do I fix CVE-2006-4392?

No fix has been published for CVE-2006-4392 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2006-4392 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2006-4392 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Apple Mac OSX 10.4.7 - Mach Exception Handling Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)
- Apple Mac OSX 10.4.7 - Mach Exception Handling Local (10.3.x) (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-2006-4392 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2006-4392 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 2 Oct 2006. 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-2006-4392 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-2006-4392/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-4392/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2006-4392
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2006-4392
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2006-4392

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-4392/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.