CVE-2005-2746 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Mail.app in Mail for Apple Mac OS X 10.3.9 and 10.4.2 includes message contents when using auto-reply rules, which could cause Mail.app to include decrypted message contents for encrypted messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2019
This vulnerability exists in Apple Mail.app versions 10.3.9 and 10.4.2 where the auto-reply functionality fails to properly handle encrypted message contents. The flaw occurs when users configure automatic responses based on specific message criteria, and the system inadvertently includes decrypted message contents in the auto-reply response. This represents a critical security oversight in the email client's handling of encrypted communications, where sensitive data that should remain protected is exposed through the automated response mechanism. The vulnerability stems from improper isolation between encrypted message data and the auto-reply processing functions, allowing the decryption process to leak information into automated responses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the interaction between the email client's encryption handling modules and its auto-reply rule engine. When an encrypted message triggers an auto-reply rule, the system processes the message to extract relevant content for the response while simultaneously decrypting the message contents. The flaw occurs because the decryption process does not properly isolate the decrypted data from the auto-reply generation process, resulting in plaintext message contents being included in the automated response. This issue is categorized under CWE-200 Information Exposure and represents a failure in proper data handling and access control mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically impacts the confidentiality of encrypted communications and violates fundamental security principles of information flow control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise sensitive communication channels. An attacker who can trigger the auto-reply mechanism with encrypted messages could gain access to confidential information that was intended to remain encrypted and private. This vulnerability affects users who rely on encrypted email communications for business, personal, or government purposes, where the exposure of decrypted message contents could lead to data breaches, privacy violations, or compromise of sensitive business information. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates automatically without user intervention, making it difficult to detect and control. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 Credential Access: Phishing, as it could enable attackers to harvest sensitive information through automated response mechanisms that appear legitimate to recipients.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Mail.app versions to ensure proper isolation between encrypted message data and auto-reply processing. System administrators should review and modify auto-reply rules to avoid triggering on encrypted messages or implement additional filtering mechanisms. Users should be educated about the risks of enabling auto-reply functions on encrypted messages and the potential for information leakage. The fix should implement proper data flow controls to prevent decrypted message contents from being accessible to the auto-reply generation process, ensuring that encrypted data remains protected even when processed through automated functions. Organizations should also consider implementing email security policies that restrict auto-reply functionality on sensitive communication channels and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential information exposure incidents.