CVE-2003-0378 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The Kerberos login authentication feature in Mac OS X, when used with an LDAPv3 server and LDAP bind authentication, may send cleartext passwords to the LDAP server when the AuthenticationAuthority attribute is not set.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-0378 represents a critical security flaw in the Kerberos authentication implementation within Mac OS X operating systems. This issue specifically manifests when the system employs LDAPv3 servers for user authentication and utilizes LDAP bind authentication mechanisms. The flaw occurs under particular conditions where the AuthenticationAuthority attribute remains unset within the LDAP directory structure, creating a scenario where sensitive authentication credentials are transmitted in cleartext format rather than being properly encrypted or secured during the authentication process. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of user authentication data within enterprise environments that rely on Mac OS X systems for directory services integration.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication credentials within the Kerberos login framework when interfacing with LDAPv3 servers. When the AuthenticationAuthority attribute is absent from the LDAP directory entries, the authentication system defaults to sending passwords in plaintext format to the LDAP server during the bind operation. This behavior violates fundamental security principles for network authentication and creates an attack surface where man-in-the-middle adversaries can easily intercept and capture user credentials. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack and specifically affects the authentication handshake between Mac OS X client systems and LDAP servers, making it particularly dangerous in network environments where such communications are not properly secured with additional encryption layers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, creating significant risks for enterprise security infrastructure. Organizations utilizing Mac OS X systems with LDAP integration face potential unauthorized access to their directory services, as captured credentials can be immediately exploited by attackers to gain elevated privileges within the network. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Mac OS X systems serve as authentication gateways for network resources, potentially allowing attackers to compromise multiple systems and services that rely on the compromised credentials. The risk is amplified in environments where LDAP communications occur over unencrypted channels, as the cleartext transmission of passwords provides attackers with immediate access to user accounts without requiring additional exploitation techniques.
Organizations should implement multiple mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary recommendation involves ensuring that all LDAP directory entries contain properly configured AuthenticationAuthority attributes to prevent the fallback to cleartext transmission. System administrators should also implement mandatory encryption for all LDAP communications using TLS or SSL protocols to protect against interception attacks. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that authentication configurations comply with security best practices and that no systems are operating with default or insecure authentication settings. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a specific instance of improper authentication handling that violates NIST SP 800-53 security controls for authentication and access control. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1075 (Pass the Hash) and T1550 (Use Alternate Authentication Material) as it enables adversaries to obtain valid credentials that can be used for lateral movement and persistence within compromised networks.