CVE-2007-4680 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
CFNetwork in Apple Mac OS X 10.3.9 and 10.4 through 10.4.10 does not properly validate certificates, which allows remote attackers to spoof trusted SSL certificates via a man-in-the-middle attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4680 represents a critical certificate validation flaw within Apple's CFNetwork framework that affected Mac OS X versions 10.3.9 through 10.4.10. This issue stems from insufficient certificate validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify the authenticity and integrity of SSL certificates presented during secure communications. The flaw enables malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable system, effectively undermining the entire SSL/TLS security infrastructure that users rely upon for secure web browsing and data transmission.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of certificate validation routines within CFNetwork, which is Apple's core networking framework responsible for handling internet communications. When systems attempt to establish secure connections using SSL/TLS protocols, the validation process should rigorously verify certificate chains, check certificate authorities, validate expiration dates, and ensure proper cryptographic signatures. However, in the affected Apple OS X versions, these validation checks were insufficiently implemented, allowing attackers to exploit weaknesses in the certificate trust model. This weakness specifically manifests when the system encounters certificates that have been improperly signed or when certificate chains are manipulated to appear as if they originate from trusted authorities, creating a false sense of security for users engaging in online transactions, email communications, and web browsing activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple network security concerns, as it fundamentally compromises the trust model that underpins secure internet communications on affected Apple systems. Users operating on vulnerable Mac OS X versions face significant risks including data interception, credential theft, financial fraud, and unauthorized access to sensitive information when connecting to websites or services that rely on SSL/TLS encryption. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates transparently to end users who may not realize their communications are being intercepted or manipulated. Attackers can exploit this weakness to redirect users to malicious websites that appear legitimate, capture login credentials, steal session cookies, or perform other malicious activities while the user believes they are securely communicating with trusted entities. This makes the vulnerability especially impactful in enterprise environments where employees may unknowingly expose corporate data or financial information to unauthorized parties.
Organizations and individuals should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of Mac OS X where available, as Apple released security updates to address this specific vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing additional network monitoring to detect suspicious certificate behavior and establish certificate pinning policies for critical applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295 which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" and relates to ATT&CK technique T1573.001 for "Encrypted Channels" where adversaries establish secure communication channels to maintain persistence and exfiltrate data. Organizations should also consider deploying network security appliances that can detect and block suspicious SSL certificate behavior, implement proper certificate management practices, and educate users about the importance of verifying certificate details and recognizing potential security warnings. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual SSL certificate validation patterns can help detect exploitation attempts and provide early warning of potential compromise.