CVE-2003-0270 in AirPort
Summary
by MITRE
The administration capability for Apple AirPort 802.11 wireless access point devices uses weak encryption (XOR with a fixed key) for protecting authentication credentials, which could allow remote attackers to obtain administrative access via sniffing when the capability is available via Ethernet or non-WEP connections.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-0270 represents a critical security flaw in Apple AirPort 802.11 wireless access point devices that stems from improper cryptographic implementation in their administrative authentication mechanism. This weakness specifically manifests in the use of XOR encryption with a fixed key for protecting administrative credentials, a technique that fundamentally violates modern cryptographic security standards and creates a severe attack surface for remote threat actors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects devices that are commonly deployed in enterprise and corporate environments where wireless network administration is critical for network operations and security management.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of cryptographic principles and security best practices. The use of XOR encryption with a fixed key creates a deterministic encryption scheme that is trivial to reverse engineer or brute force, as the same key is used consistently across all authentication attempts. This approach directly contravenes established cryptographic guidelines and represents a clear violation of CWE-327, which specifically addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms and improper key management. The fixed nature of the XOR key means that any network traffic containing administrative credentials can be decrypted by an attacker with minimal computational resources, effectively eliminating any security benefit that might have been intended through the encryption mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass complete administrative control of affected wireless access points. When the administration capability is accessible via Ethernet or non-WEP connections, attackers can perform passive network monitoring and traffic sniffing to capture authentication credentials, then immediately exploit the weak encryption to gain full administrative privileges. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials use and privilege escalation through administrative access. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a backdoor into wireless network infrastructure, potentially allowing them to modify network configurations, implement malicious policies, or establish persistent access points within the network environment.
Network administrators face significant challenges when addressing this vulnerability due to the age of affected devices and the lack of available patches or updates for legacy AirPort hardware. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in network security devices and highlights the risks associated with using outdated security mechanisms in enterprise environments. Organizations must consider immediate mitigation strategies including network segmentation to isolate affected devices, implementation of additional authentication layers, and potentially replacing vulnerable hardware with modern alternatives that implement proper cryptographic standards. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of regular security audits and the importance of avoiding cryptographic implementations that rely on simple or well-known algorithms without proper security analysis.