CVE-2005-2519 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
slpd in directory services in mac os x 10.3.9 creates insecure temporary files as root which allows local users to gain privileges.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2519 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the service location protocol daemon slpd that operates within Mac OS X 10.3.9 directory services. This issue stems from the improper handling of temporary files during the daemon's execution lifecycle, creating a security weakness that local attackers can exploit to elevate their system privileges. The slpd service is responsible for managing service location and discovery within the directory services framework, making it a critical component for network service availability and management.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insecure creation of temporary files by the slpd daemon which runs with root privileges. When the daemon generates temporary files, it does so in a manner that allows local users to predict or manipulate the file paths, leading to potential race conditions or file overwrites that can be exploited for privilege escalation. This flaw aligns with CWE-377, which specifically addresses insecure temporary file creation practices, and demonstrates how improper file handling can create persistent security weaknesses in system services. The daemon's operation creates temporary files that are world-writable or accessible to unprivileged users, enabling attackers to replace legitimate files with malicious counterparts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides local attackers with a straightforward path to achieving root privileges on affected systems. Once exploited, the attacker gains complete control over the system, allowing for data exfiltration, system modification, or further network infiltration. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no network access or external attack vectors, making it exploitable through local system compromise alone. This type of privilege escalation attack falls under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploitation of system services, and represents a classic example of how service misconfigurations can create persistent backdoors for attackers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the affected Mac OS X 10.3.9 systems through official Apple security updates, which would address the insecure temporary file creation behavior in the slpd daemon. System administrators should also implement proper file permissions and access controls to minimize the impact of such vulnerabilities, ensuring that temporary file directories are properly secured with appropriate ownership and permissions. Additionally, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to system services and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices in system services, particularly those that operate with elevated privileges, and underscores the necessity of proper temporary file handling mechanisms that prevent predictable or manipulable file locations. Organizations should also consider implementing least privilege principles for service accounts and regularly auditing system configurations to prevent similar issues from arising in other components of their infrastructure.