CVE-2005-1472 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Certain system calls in Apple Mac OS X 10.4.1 do not properly enforce the permissions of certain directories without the POSIX read bit set, but with the execute bits set for group or other, which allows local users to list files in otherwise restricted directories.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2021
This vulnerability exists in Apple Mac OS X 10.4.1 where system calls fail to properly enforce directory permissions when certain directories have execute bits set for group or other users without the POSIX read bit being set. The flaw represents a classic permission escalation issue that violates fundamental security principles of access control. According to CWE-276, this corresponds to incorrect permissions on critical resources, specifically manifesting as inadequate access control mechanisms for directory traversal operations. The vulnerability stems from the operating system's failure to properly validate directory access controls during system call execution, creating a scenario where unauthorized users can bypass expected security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs at the kernel level where system calls that handle directory operations do not adequately check the effective permissions of directories. When a directory has execute permissions for group or other users but lacks read permissions, the system should prevent listing operations. However, the flawed implementation allows local users to enumerate directory contents through system calls that should otherwise be restricted. This behavior violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in the mandatory access control mechanisms that should govern file system operations. The vulnerability specifically affects the interaction between execute and read permissions, where execute-only access should not grant the ability to list directory contents.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables local users to discover the existence and names of files in restricted directories that they should not normally be able to access. Attackers can exploit this to map out directory structures and identify sensitive files or directories that may contain confidential information, system configuration data, or other resources that should remain hidden. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the system call level, meaning it can be leveraged by malicious software or compromised user accounts to gather intelligence about the system's file structure. This reconnaissance capability can serve as a foundation for further attacks, including privilege escalation attempts or targeted exploitation of other system vulnerabilities. The issue is classified under the ATT&CK technique T1083 for discovering files and directories, making it a valuable reconnaissance primitive for attackers.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper permission checking mechanisms within system calls and ensuring that execute-only permissions do not inadvertently grant listing capabilities. System administrators should consider updating to patched versions of Mac OS X 10.4.2 or later, which contain the necessary fixes to address the permission enforcement flaws. Additionally, organizations should review their directory permissions to ensure that execute permissions are not granted without proper read permissions for sensitive directories. The fix typically involves modifying the kernel's file system access control checks to properly validate that read permissions are required for directory listing operations, regardless of execute bit settings. Regular security audits of file system permissions and system call implementations should be conducted to prevent similar issues from arising in other operating system components or third-party applications that may exhibit similar permission enforcement weaknesses.