CVE-2007-4688 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The Networking component in Apple Mac OS X 10.4 through 10.4.10 allows remote attackers to obtain all addresses for a host, including link-local addresses, via a Node Information Query.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4688 resides within the networking stack of Apple Mac OS X versions 10.4 through 10.4.10, specifically affecting the Node Information Query functionality. This issue represents a significant disclosure of network information that could be exploited by remote attackers to gain insights into the target system's network topology and address configuration. The vulnerability stems from the implementation of the Node Information Query mechanism, which is part of the IPv6 networking protocol suite and is designed to provide information about nodes on a network. However, the implementation in these Mac OS X versions fails to properly restrict access to this information, allowing unauthorized remote entities to query and retrieve complete host address information including link-local addresses that should remain private.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient access controls and validation mechanisms within the networking component's handling of Node Information Query requests. When a remote attacker sends a Node Information Query to a vulnerable Mac OS X system, the system responds with a comprehensive list of all network addresses assigned to that host, including link-local addresses that are typically restricted to local network communication only. This behavior violates fundamental network security principles by exposing internal network addressing information that could be used for further attacks. The vulnerability specifically affects the IPv6 networking stack and operates at the network protocol level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring any authentication or local access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical network topology information that can be leveraged for subsequent attacks. The exposure of link-local addresses specifically creates opportunities for attackers to perform network reconnaissance and potentially exploit other vulnerabilities that may be present on systems within the same local network segment. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper output neutralization for logs, and represents a classic case of information exposure that can facilitate privilege escalation and lateral movement attacks. The impact is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Mac OS X systems may be running in mixed network environments with various security controls and access restrictions.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is straightforward and requires only network connectivity to the target system. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability by simply sending a Node Information Query packet to the target host, which will respond with the complete address information. This type of attack is classified under the MITRE ATT&CK framework as part of the Discovery tactic, specifically related to network service scanning and enumeration techniques. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of proper input validation and access control implementation within the networking stack, which represents a critical security flaw that could be exploited by automated scanning tools to identify and catalog vulnerable systems on a network. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of systems running vulnerable versions of Mac OS X, while also applying the appropriate security patches provided by Apple to address this information disclosure vulnerability.