Software operating in a MAC OS environment, where .DS_Store is in effect, must carefully manage hard links, otherwise an attacker may be able to leverage a hard link from .DS_Store to overwrite arbitrary files and gain privileges.
Time of Introduction
Architecture and Design
Implementation
Operation
Applicable Platforms
Languages
All
Common Consequences
Scope
Effect
Confidentiality
Integrity
Technical Impact: Read files or
directories; Modify files or
directories
The Finder in Mac OS X and earlier allows local
users to overwrite arbitrary files and gain privileges by creating a hard
link from the .DS_Store file to an arbitrary
file.
This entry, which originated from PLOVER, probably stems from a common
manipulation that is used to exploit symlink and hard link following
weaknesses, like /etc/passwd is often used for UNIX-based exploits. As such,
it is probably too low-level for inclusion in CWE.