CVE-2005-1430 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Mac OS X 10.3.x and earlier uses insecure permissions for a pseudo terminal tty (pty) that is managed by a non-setuid program, which allows local users to read or modify sessions of other users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1430 represents a critical privilege escalation issue affecting Mac OS X versions 10.3.x and earlier systems. This flaw stems from improper access control mechanisms within the pseudo terminal tty (pty) management system, where the underlying program responsible for handling terminal sessions lacks proper setuid privileges. The insecure permissions configuration creates a scenario where local attackers can exploit the system's terminal management infrastructure to gain unauthorized access to other users' terminal sessions, fundamentally compromising the confidentiality and integrity of user interactions within the operating environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the design of the pty subsystem where the terminal manager process operates without appropriate privilege separation. When users establish terminal sessions, the system creates pty devices that should normally be protected from unauthorized access by other users. However, due to the insecure permissions model, these pseudo terminal devices become accessible to any local user who can identify and access the appropriate device files. This design flaw directly violates fundamental security principles of privilege separation and access control, allowing malicious users to intercept, monitor, or manipulate active terminal sessions belonging to other system users.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, keystroke logging, and unauthorized access to sensitive information transmitted through terminal sessions. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as attackers can potentially escalate privileges further by accessing administrative sessions or exploiting the compromised terminal to execute malicious commands. The vulnerability affects the core security model of the operating system's terminal management, undermining trust in user session isolation and potentially enabling broader compromise of system resources. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in permissions and access control mechanisms, specifically CWE-276, which deals with insecure default permissions.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and credential access, as attackers can leverage the compromised terminal sessions to obtain elevated privileges or access credentials from other users. The attack surface is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where system administrators or regular users may have active sessions that could be monitored or manipulated by local adversaries. Organizations running affected versions of Mac OS X face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized system access, particularly in environments where sensitive information is processed through terminal interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to newer versions of Mac OS X where the pty permissions have been properly secured. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring of terminal session activity and verify that proper file permissions are enforced on pty devices. The recommended approach includes applying security patches from Apple that address the underlying permission issues, implementing additional access controls through system configuration, and conducting regular security audits to ensure proper privilege separation. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based monitoring solutions to detect unusual terminal session activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of leaving terminal sessions unattended and the importance of proper session management practices to minimize exposure to such attacks.