passwd in Directory Services in Mac OS X 10.3.x before 10.3.9 and 10.4.x before 10.4.5 allows local users to create arbitrary world-writable files as root by specifying an alternate file in the password database option.
docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303382
lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2006/Mar/msg00000.html
secunia.com/advisories/19064
www.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/display.php?id=400
www.osvdb.org/23646
www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/426535/100/0/threaded
www.securityfocus.com/bid/16907
www.securityfocus.com/bid/16910
www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA06-062A.html
www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2006/0791
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/25272