CVE-2004-0090 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in Windows File Sharing for Mac OS X 10.1.5 through 10.3.2 does not "shutdown properly," which has unknown impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0090 affects the Windows File Sharing component of Mac OS X versions 10.1.5 through 10.3.2, representing a critical issue in the operating system's file sharing functionality. This flaw manifests in improper shutdown procedures within the Windows File Sharing service, creating potential security risks that could be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper shutdown handling, which is classified as CWE-706, indicating that the system fails to properly terminate or clean up resources during the shutdown process. The affected versions of Mac OS X represent a significant portion of the operating system's user base during that era, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in the Windows File Sharing service's inability to gracefully terminate its operations when the system attempts to shut down. This improper shutdown behavior could leave network connections in an inconsistent state, potentially allowing unauthorized access to shared resources or creating denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's impact remains unspecified, but such improper shutdown procedures typically create opportunities for privilege escalation, resource exhaustion, or information disclosure attacks. From an attacker's perspective, this flaw could serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, as incomplete shutdown processes often leave system components in vulnerable states. The lack of specific information about attack vectors suggests that the vulnerability may have been difficult to exploit directly or that the full scope of potential exploitation paths was not well understood at the time of disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, potentially compromising the integrity and availability of shared network resources. When the Windows File Sharing service does not shut down properly, it could leave open network ports or maintain active connections that should have been terminated, creating persistent security exposure windows. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004, which covers the use of system shutdown commands to disrupt services or create opportunities for further exploitation. Organizations running affected Mac OS X versions would face increased risk of unauthorized network access, data leakage through improperly closed file shares, and potential system instability. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of the operating system suggests that it was likely a fundamental issue in the service implementation rather than a simple configuration problem.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch application and system hardening measures. Apple released security updates addressing this issue, and users should have implemented these patches as soon as they became available. Network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring of file sharing services during system shutdown procedures to detect abnormal behavior. The vulnerability's nature suggests that temporary workarounds such as disabling the Windows File Sharing service when not actively needed could provide interim protection. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. From a compliance standpoint, organizations should document their remediation efforts and verify that the shutdown procedures function correctly after patch application. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper resource cleanup and graceful shutdown procedures in network services, as these fundamental operations are often overlooked in security assessments but can create significant exposure points.