CVE-2007-5855 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Mail in Apple Mac OS X 10.4.11 and 10.5.1, when an SMTP account has been set up using Account Assistant, can use plaintext authentication even when MD5 Challenge-Response authentication is available, which makes it easier for remote attackers to sniff account activity.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-5855 represents a significant security flaw in Apple Mac OS X versions 10.4.11 and 10.5.1 affecting the Mail application's authentication mechanisms. This issue specifically impacts SMTP account configurations created through the Account Assistant utility, creating a downgrade attack vector that compromises user authentication security. The flaw allows for plaintext authentication to be utilized even when more secure MD5 Challenge-Response authentication methods are available, fundamentally undermining the security posture of email communications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper authentication protocol selection within the Mail application's SMTP client configuration. When users set up email accounts using the Account Assistant, the system fails to enforce the use of secure authentication methods, instead defaulting to plaintext authentication which is inherently vulnerable to network sniffing attacks. This behavior creates a clear security gap where the system prioritizes convenience over security, allowing attackers to intercept authentication credentials during email transmission. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues) as it involves the exposure of authentication credentials in plaintext format.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly increases the attack surface for remote adversaries who can leverage network sniffing tools to capture authentication data transmitted over unencrypted connections. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft to include potential email account compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive communications, and the possibility of further network infiltration through compromised email accounts. Attackers can utilize tools such as tcpdump or Wireshark to capture network traffic and extract plaintext usernames and passwords, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability in environments where email communications contain sensitive business or personal information.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1075 (Pass the Hash) and T1566 (Phishing) as it enables attackers to obtain authentication credentials that can be used for lateral movement within networks. Organizations using affected Mac OS X versions face increased risk of credential-based attacks, particularly in environments where email systems handle confidential data. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security configuration management and highlights the importance of enforcing secure authentication protocols by default. Mitigation strategies should include immediate system updates to patched versions of Mac OS X, configuration changes to enforce MD5 Challenge-Response authentication, and network monitoring to detect potential credential interception attempts. Additionally, administrators should implement network segmentation and encryption policies to reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities and ensure that all email communications utilize secure authentication mechanisms.