CVE-2001-1447 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
NetInfo Manager for Mac OS X 10.0 through 10.1 allows local users to gain root privileges by opening applications using the (1) "recent items" and (2) "services" menus, which causes the applications to run with root privileges.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2024
This vulnerability exists in NetInfo Manager for Mac OS X versions 10.0 through 10.1, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that allows local attackers to elevate their system privileges from standard user to root access. The vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling within the application's integration with the operating system's recent items and services menus, creating a pathway for malicious code execution with elevated privileges.
The technical flaw manifests when users interact with applications through the recent items or services menus, which triggers the execution of applications with root privileges. This occurs due to insufficient input validation and privilege separation mechanisms within the NetInfo Manager component. When applications are launched through these menu interfaces, the system fails to properly sanitize the execution context, allowing the malicious application to inherit root privileges during execution. This design flaw aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and represents a classic case of insecure privilege handling in operating system components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides local users with direct pathways to system compromise without requiring any special exploitation techniques. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious applications that, when executed through the affected menus, automatically run with root privileges. This creates a persistent backdoor for attackers to gain complete system control, modify critical system files, install malware, or establish further footholds within the network. The vulnerability essentially eliminates the security boundary between regular user accounts and root access, making the entire system susceptible to compromise.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected Mac OS X versions, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent updates. System administrators should implement strict application control policies and monitor for unauthorized applications being added to the recent items or services menus. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting the number of applications that have access to system-level services and recent items integration. Organizations should also consider implementing security monitoring solutions that can detect suspicious privilege escalation attempts and ensure that only trusted applications are permitted to operate with elevated privileges. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper privilege management in system components and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through the use of services and system components.