CVE-2007-0743 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
URLMount in Apple Mac OS X 10.3.9 through 10.4.9 passes the username and password credentials for mounting filesystems on SMB servers as command line arguments to the mount_sub command, which may allow local users to obtain sensitive information by listing the process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0743 affects Apple Mac OS X versions 10.3.9 through 10.4.9 and resides within the URLMount functionality that handles SMB filesystem mounting operations. This flaw represents a critical security oversight where authentication credentials are inadvertently exposed through process enumeration mechanisms. The issue stems from how the system manages command line arguments when executing the mount_sub command, creating an attack surface that allows unauthorized access to sensitive credential information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when users mount SMB shares through the URLMount interface, which subsequently invokes the mount_sub command with authentication parameters passed as command line arguments. This design flaw directly violates security best practices by exposing sensitive information in process listings where command line arguments are visible to any user with appropriate privileges. The mount_sub command execution creates a process tree where the username and password credentials remain accessible through standard process inspection tools, making them discoverable by local users with minimal privileges.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for systems where multiple users share the same machine or where process monitoring is enabled. Local users can leverage standard command line tools such as ps to enumerate running processes and extract the credential information from the command line arguments of the mount_sub process. This exposure effectively undermines the security of network authentication mechanisms by making it trivial for attackers to obtain valid credentials for SMB shares. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where users may not be fully trusted, as it allows for credential harvesting without requiring elevated privileges or sophisticated attack vectors.
The underlying cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-255 Credential Management Issues and specifically relates to CWE-312 Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information. The flaw demonstrates poor input handling and command execution practices that expose sensitive data in memory locations accessible through standard system interfaces. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1003.001 Credential Dumping: LSASS Memory, as it creates a similar exposure where authentication credentials become accessible through process enumeration rather than through direct memory access. The security implications extend beyond simple credential exposure to include potential privilege escalation opportunities when combined with other local vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to patched versions of Mac OS X, as Apple addressed this issue in subsequent releases. Organizations should also implement process monitoring to detect unauthorized credential exposure and establish strict access controls for systems running vulnerable versions. System administrators should consider disabling URLMount functionality when not required and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of credential exposure. Additionally, organizations should enforce secure credential handling practices including the use of secure authentication protocols and regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper handling of sensitive information in system interfaces, particularly when dealing with authentication mechanisms that involve command line execution.