CVE-2005-2510 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
the server admin tool in servermgr_ipfilter for mac os x 10.4 to 10.4.2 when using multiple subnets and address groups does not always properly write firewall rules to the active rules when certain conditions occur which could result in firewall policies that are less restrictive than intended by the administrator.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2510 affects the server admin tool within servermgr_ipfilter for Mac OS X versions 10.4 through 10.4.2. This issue specifically impacts the configuration and enforcement of firewall policies through the graphical administration interface. The flaw manifests when administrators attempt to manage complex firewall configurations involving multiple subnets and address groups, which are common requirements in enterprise network environments where granular access control is essential. The vulnerability resides in the tool's inability to consistently and correctly translate administrative configurations into actual firewall rule implementations within the operating system's kernel-level packet filtering mechanism.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of rule persistence and synchronization between the administrative interface and the underlying firewall subsystem. When multiple subnets and address groups are configured, the servermgr_ipfilter tool fails to consistently write firewall rules to the active rule set under certain conditional scenarios. This inconsistency creates a mismatch between what administrators configure through the graphical interface and what is actually enforced by the system's packet filtering engine. The vulnerability represents a classic case of inadequate input validation and rule management, where the administrative tool does not properly validate or serialize the configuration data before applying it to the system's firewall rules. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-691, which addresses inadequate protection of control flow, and CWE-887, which covers insufficient logging of security-relevant events.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Mac OS X servers for network security management. Administrators who configure complex firewall policies with multiple subnets and address groups may inadvertently create security gaps where the firewall enforces less restrictive policies than intended. This could allow unauthorized network access that would otherwise be blocked, potentially exposing sensitive systems to attack vectors. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where network segmentation is critical for security, as administrators might believe their firewall rules are properly implemented when in fact the system is operating with weakened security controls. The issue could remain undetected for extended periods, as the administrative interface might appear to function normally while silently failing to enforce proper access controls.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability by first upgrading to a supported version of Mac OS X that contains the necessary security fixes. System administrators should conduct thorough audits of their current firewall configurations to identify any potential inconsistencies that may have resulted from this bug. Additionally, implementing redundant monitoring and validation mechanisms can help detect when firewall rules are not properly enforced. The remediation process should include verifying that all configured rules are properly reflected in the active firewall policy, and establishing procedures for regular validation of firewall configurations. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper rule synchronization between administrative interfaces and underlying security subsystems, and demonstrates the critical need for comprehensive testing of security configuration tools in enterprise environments. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of security monitoring to detect unauthorized network access patterns that might indicate the presence of such security gaps.