CVE-2004-1089 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
unknown vulnerability in apple mac os x 10.3.6 server when using kerberos authentication and cyrus imap allows local users to access mailboxes of other users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1089 represents a critical access control flaw within Apple Mac OS X 10.3.6 Server systems utilizing Kerberos authentication with Cyrus IMAP services. This issue stems from improper privilege management during mailbox access operations, creating a scenario where local authenticated users can bypass normal security boundaries to access unauthorized mailboxes. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system employs Kerberos authentication mechanisms alongside the Cyrus IMAP server implementation, which is a widely deployed email server solution within enterprise environments. The flaw exists at the intersection of authentication and authorization services, where the system fails to properly validate user permissions when accessing mailbox resources. This creates a privilege escalation scenario where users with legitimate access to the system can exploit the misconfiguration to read emails belonging to other users within the same domain. The vulnerability impacts systems that rely on Kerberos for authentication while utilizing Cyrus IMAP for email services, representing a significant security risk for organizations that depend on these technologies for their email infrastructure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of mailbox access controls within the integrated Kerberos authentication and Cyrus IMAP framework. When users authenticate through Kerberos and subsequently attempt to access mailboxes via the Cyrus IMAP service, the system fails to properly enforce access control lists that should prevent cross-user mailbox access. This flaw typically occurs due to insufficient validation of user credentials or improper session management during mailbox operations. The vulnerability is classified as a privilege escalation issue where local users can leverage their legitimate authentication to access restricted resources. According to CWE standards, this represents a weakness in authorization controls where the system does not properly enforce access restrictions, specifically categorized under CWE-284 Access Control. The issue demonstrates poor separation of privileges where the authentication mechanism should have been sufficient to establish proper access boundaries, but instead allowed lateral movement within the email system. The problem is particularly insidious because it operates at the application level rather than at the network or operating system level, making it more difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring approaches.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially expose sensitive email communications and personal data belonging to multiple users within the affected organization. Local users who exploit this vulnerability can access confidential business communications, personal correspondence, and potentially sensitive information that should remain private to individual users. This creates significant risks for organizations handling regulated data or sensitive communications where unauthorized access could lead to compliance violations, data breaches, or privacy violations. The vulnerability affects email systems where Kerberos authentication is implemented alongside Cyrus IMAP, which was common in enterprise environments during the early 2000s when this vulnerability was discovered. Organizations relying on this configuration face potential exposure of their email infrastructure to insider threats or compromised accounts. The impact is particularly severe because the vulnerability allows access to multiple user mailboxes rather than just a single target, amplifying the potential data exposure. This type of vulnerability also undermines trust in the email system and can lead to reputational damage for organizations that experience unauthorized access incidents.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1089 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Mac OS X 10.3.6 Server systems, as well as implementing additional access control measures. Organizations should upgrade to patched versions of Mac OS X Server that address the Kerberos authentication and Cyrus IMAP integration issues. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and additional monitoring to detect unauthorized mailbox access attempts. The vulnerability can be partially mitigated through enhanced logging and monitoring of IMAP access patterns, which can help detect abnormal access behavior. Security configurations should be reviewed to ensure proper access control enforcement, and organizations should consider implementing additional authentication layers or multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of exploitation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access, specifically covering T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing. Organizations should also implement proper access control reviews and ensure that user permissions are properly configured to minimize the impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments of authentication and authorization systems are essential to identify similar misconfigurations that could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive resources. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper privilege separation in integrated authentication systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of authentication mechanisms.