CVE-2004-0622 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Apple Mac OS X 10.3.4, 10.4, 10.5, and possibly other versions does not properly clear memory for login (aka Loginwindow.app), Keychain, or FileVault passwords, which could allow the root user or an attacker with physical access to obtain sensitive information by reading memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2019
This vulnerability affects Apple Mac OS X versions 10.3.4, 10.4, 10.5, and potentially other releases where the operating system fails to properly clear memory segments containing authentication credentials. The flaw specifically impacts critical system components including Loginwindow.app, Keychain services, and FileVault encryption mechanisms. When users enter passwords for login, keychain access, or FileVault decryption, the system does not adequately overwrite memory locations containing these sensitive credentials, leaving them accessible to malicious actors who can potentially extract this information through memory analysis techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices within the authentication subsystems of macOS. When password inputs are processed through the login window application or keychain services, the system stores these credentials in memory locations that should be securely cleared after authentication completion. However, the memory clearing mechanisms fail to completely overwrite the sensitive data, leaving residual information that can be recovered through direct memory access or forensic analysis. This memory leakage occurs during both successful and failed authentication attempts, creating persistent exposure windows for credential theft.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for systems where physical access can be obtained by malicious actors or where privilege escalation attacks are possible. An attacker with root access or physical possession of a target system can utilize memory dumping tools to extract stored passwords from the operating system's memory space. This creates a substantial risk for systems that rely on FileVault encryption, as the encryption keys could be extracted from memory, potentially compromising encrypted volumes. The vulnerability particularly affects systems where users frequently authenticate, as the memory segments containing credentials remain accessible for extended periods, increasing the window of opportunity for exploitation. This weakness aligns with CWE-1297, which addresses improper handling of sensitive information in memory, and represents a critical security gap in macOS authentication architecture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate system updates to patched versions of macOS where Apple has addressed the memory clearing implementation issues. Organizations should implement additional security measures such as disabling unnecessary authentication services, enforcing strong physical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to systems, and implementing memory protection mechanisms where possible. System administrators should conduct regular security assessments to identify systems running vulnerable macOS versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. The remediation approach should also include monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns and implementing memory sanitization practices as recommended by the defense industry best practices. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure memory management in authentication systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of credential handling mechanisms across all operating system components.