CVE-2009-1235

CVE-2009-1235 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-264.

Key facts

• Severity: High (CVSS 2.0 base score 7.2)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (58th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-264
• Affected product: Apple Mac Os X
• Published: 2009-04-02
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is 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 and performing certain steps involving HFS_GET_BOOT_INFO fcntl calls.

How severe is CVE-2009-1235?

CVE-2009-1235 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2, rated high severity.

Is CVE-2009-1235 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (58th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-1235?

CVE-2009-1235 primarily affects Apple Mac Os X. In total, 114 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-1235?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2009-1235 published?

CVE-2009-1235 was published on 2009-04-02 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

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.c
• http://www.digit-labs.org/files/exploits/xnu-hfs-fcntl-v2.sh
• http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/mac/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=216401181
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/34203
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1022671
• http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-218A.html
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/0822
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2172
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/8266

Affected products (114)

• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.2.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.2.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.2.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.2.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.2.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.3.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.3.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.3.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.3.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Apple Mac Os X

• CVE-2018-4310 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An access issue was addressed with additional sandbox restrictions. This issue affected versions prior to iOS 12, macOS…
• CVE-2019-6235 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 12.1.3, macOS Mojave…
• CVE-2018-4229 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.13.5 is affected. The issue involves the "Grand…
• CVE-2018-4091 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.13.3 is affected. The issue involves the "Sandbox"…
• CVE-2015-8659 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The idle stream handling in nghttp2 before 1.6.0 allows attackers to have unspecified impact via unknown vectors, aka a…
• CVE-2015-7071 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The File Bookmark component in Apple OS X before 10.11.2 allows attackers to bypass a sandbox protection mechanism for…

All CVEs affecting Apple Mac Os X →

Other CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls) vulnerabilities

• CVE-2016-8363 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An issue was discovered in Moxa OnCell OnCellG3470A-LTE, AWK-1131A/3131A/4131A Series, AWK-3191 Series, AWK-5232/6232…
• CVE-2016-7457 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): VMware vRealize Operations (aka vROps) 6.x before 6.4.0 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges, or halt…
• CVE-2015-7425 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The Data Protection component in the VMware vSphere GUI in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for Virtual Environments: Data…
• CVE-2015-8267 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The PasswordReset.Controllers.ResetController.ChangePasswordIndex method in PasswordReset.dll in Dovestones AD Self…
• CVE-2015-7919 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): SearchBlox 8.3 before 8.3.1 allows remote attackers to write to the config file, and consequently cause a denial of…
• CVE-2015-7071 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The File Bookmark component in Apple OS X before 10.11.2 allows attackers to bypass a sandbox protection mechanism for…

Browse all CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls) vulnerabilities →