CVE-2001-0806 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Apple MacOS X 10.0 and 10.1 allow a local user to read and write to a user s desktop folder via insecure default permissions for the Desktop when it is created in some languages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2019
This vulnerability exists in Apple MacOS X versions 10.0 and 10.1 where the system creates desktop folders with insecure default permissions during the initial setup process. The flaw specifically affects systems that are configured to use certain languages where the desktop folder creation process does not properly establish restrictive access controls. When the desktop folder is created, it is initialized with permissions that allow any local user to both read and write to the user's desktop directory, effectively bypassing the normal security boundaries that should protect user data and prevent unauthorized access to personal files. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where a local attacker can gain access to another user's desktop files without requiring additional authentication or elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from how the operating system handles locale-specific folder creation during user account initialization. When a user account is first created, the system automatically generates a desktop folder in the user's home directory. In certain language configurations, the default permissions assigned to this folder are set to world-readable and world-writable, which violates fundamental security principles. This issue is classified as a permissions misconfiguration that falls under the CWE-732 category of inadequate permissions for critical resources. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the file system level and affects the core user directory structure, making it difficult to detect and remediate without proper system administration procedures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for local users who may attempt to access other users' desktop folders to read sensitive information or modify files. An attacker could potentially access personal documents, configuration files, or other data stored in the desktop directory. This vulnerability also creates potential for data integrity issues since unauthorized users can modify files in the desktop folder without proper authorization. The attack surface is limited to local access but remains dangerous in multi-user environments or shared computing scenarios. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1068 which covers local privilege escalation techniques and T1078 which covers valid accounts and legitimate credentials. The vulnerability could also facilitate further attacks by allowing an attacker to plant malicious files or modify existing files in the desktop folder, potentially leading to more sophisticated compromise techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate system updates from Apple that correct the default permission settings during desktop folder creation. System administrators should also implement regular permission audits to ensure that desktop folders and other user directories maintain appropriate access controls. The recommended approach includes setting proper umask values during user account creation and implementing automated checks to verify that user directories have restrictive permissions. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing mandatory access controls or file system monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to user desktop folders. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper default security configurations in operating systems and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation details can create significant security risks. Users should be educated about the importance of checking their system permissions and understanding how their operating system handles user directory creation, particularly in multi-user environments where proper isolation between user accounts is critical for maintaining security boundaries.