CVE-2001-1446 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Find-By-Content in Mac OS X 10.0 through 10.0.4 creates world-readable index files named .FBCIndex in every directory, which allows remote attackers to learn the contents of files in web accessible directories.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1446 represents a significant information disclosure flaw in Mac OS X versions 10.0 through 10.0.4 that stems from the implementation of find-by-content functionality. This feature, designed to enable users to search for files based on their content, inadvertently created persistent index files that exposed sensitive directory contents to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability specifically affects the operating system's handling of web-accessible directories where the .FBCIndex files are generated, creating a pathway for remote attackers to enumerate file contents without proper authentication or authorization.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the creation of world-readable index files named .FBCIndex within every directory processed by the find-by-content feature. These index files contain metadata about the files present in each directory, effectively serving as a directory listing that reveals the existence and names of files stored within web-accessible paths. The vulnerability occurs because the system does not properly restrict file permissions for these generated index files, allowing any remote user to access them through standard web protocols. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control, as the index files are created with overly permissive permissions that make them accessible to all users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. Remote attackers can leverage the exposed directory listings to identify sensitive files, determine file types, and potentially discover files containing confidential information or system configuration details. When combined with other vulnerabilities or reconnaissance activities, this information disclosure can provide attackers with valuable intelligence for crafting targeted attacks against web applications or services hosted on affected systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in web server environments where directory traversal and content enumeration are common attack vectors, as it provides an automated method for discovering file contents that would otherwise require more complex reconnaissance techniques.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-200, which describes "Information Exposure," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for "External Remote Services" and T1083 for "File and Directory Discovery." The flaw demonstrates poor security implementation in the operating system's file indexing mechanism and highlights the importance of proper permission management for automatically generated system files. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including restricting access to web-accessible directories, manually removing existing .FBCIndex files, and upgrading to patched versions of Mac OS X. The incident underscores the critical need for security reviews of system features that automatically generate persistent files, particularly those that may contain directory or content information that could be exploited by unauthorized parties.