CVE-2003-1009 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Directory Services in Apple Mac OS X 10.0.2, 10.0.3, 10.2.8, 10.3.2 and Apple Mac OS X Server 10.2 through 10.3.2 accepts authentication server information from unknown LDAP or NetInfo sources as provided by a malicious DHCP server, which allows remote attackers to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2021
This vulnerability exists in Apple Mac OS X directory services implementation across multiple versions including 10.0.2, 10.0.3, 10.2.8, 10.3.2 and Apple Mac OS X Server 10.2 through 10.3.2. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of authentication server information received from directory services sources, particularly when these sources are provided by potentially malicious entities. The vulnerability specifically exploits the trust relationship between the operating system and directory services protocols such as LDAP and NetInfo, which are commonly used for centralized user authentication and directory management. When a malicious DHCP server provides false authentication server information, the system blindly accepts this data without proper verification, creating a significant security risk. This issue falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically related to improper access control in directory services authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to manipulate the directory services configuration and potentially gain elevated privileges within the system.
The technical exploitation occurs through a man-in-the-middle attack vector where attackers position themselves between the client and legitimate directory services servers. By controlling a DHCP server on the same network segment, malicious actors can inject false DNS or LDAP server information into the client's network configuration. This allows the system to redirect authentication requests to attacker-controlled servers, enabling credential theft, unauthorized access to directory services, and potential privilege escalation. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of trust exploitation in network protocols, where the system's trust model is manipulated to accept unverified directory service endpoints. This flaw represents a significant weakness in the operating system's security architecture, as it allows remote attackers to compromise the authentication infrastructure without requiring local access or credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include complete compromise of directory services infrastructure. Attackers can intercept and manipulate authentication traffic, potentially gaining access to sensitive user accounts, system resources, and enterprise directories. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where Mac OS X systems rely heavily on centralized directory services for user management and authentication. The implications include potential data breaches, unauthorized system access, and disruption of legitimate directory services operations. Organizations using affected versions of Mac OS X may experience unauthorized access to corporate directories, user account compromise, and potential lateral movement within the network. This vulnerability also demonstrates the broader risk of trusting network configuration information without proper validation, a principle that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1021.002 for remote services and T1566 for credential harvesting through network manipulation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on network segmentation and validation of directory service endpoints. Organizations should implement DHCP snooping and DHCP server authentication to prevent unauthorized DHCP servers from providing malicious configuration data. Network administrators should also consider implementing DNS security measures and monitoring for unusual directory service traffic patterns. Apple released patches for affected versions, and upgrading to patched versions represents the primary remediation approach. Additional defensive measures include implementing network access control lists, monitoring directory service authentication logs for suspicious activity, and configuring systems to validate directory service endpoint information through multiple channels. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that verify configuration information from multiple sources and maintain strict validation of network services and authentication endpoints.