CVE-2006-4413 in Remote Desktop admin
Summary
by MITRE
Apple Remote Desktop before 3.1 uses insecure permissions for certain built-in packages, which allows local users on an Apple Remote Desktop administration system to modify the packages and gain root privileges on client systems that use the packages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-4413 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Apple Remote Desktop (ARD) software versions prior to 3.1. This issue stems from inadequate access control mechanisms implemented in the software's package management system, creating a pathway for local attackers to compromise the security posture of client systems. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative components of ARD that handle package distribution and execution, fundamentally undermining the trust model between administration servers and client endpoints.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insecure file permissions assigned to built-in packages within the Apple Remote Desktop framework. These packages, which are essential for remote administration tasks including software deployment and system management, are configured with overly permissive access controls that allow local users to modify critical system components. This misconfiguration creates a privilege escalation vector where an attacker with local access to the ARD administration system can manipulate package contents and subsequently execute malicious code with elevated privileges on target client systems. The flaw operates at the operating system level, leveraging the trust relationship between administration servers and client machines to bypass normal security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise of client machines connected to vulnerable ARD environments. When local users exploit this weakness, they can gain root access to client systems, enabling them to install malicious software, modify system configurations, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where ARD is commonly used for centralized system management, as a single compromised administrative workstation could potentially provide attackers with access to multiple client systems across the network. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the security assumptions underlying remote administration protocols.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Apple Remote Desktop version 3.1 or later, which addresses the insecure permissions issue through proper access control enforcement. System administrators must also conduct comprehensive audits of existing package permissions and implement monitoring for unauthorized modifications to critical system components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which addresses inadequate permissions for critical resources, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation technique. Additional defensive measures should include network segmentation, mandatory access controls, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of similar permission-based vulnerabilities in enterprise environments.