CVE-2008-4368 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration of Java 1.5 on Apple Mac OS X 10.5.4 and 10.5.5 contains a jurisdiction policy that limits Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) key sizes to 128 bits, which makes it easier for attackers to decrypt ciphertext produced by JCE.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-4368 represents a critical cryptographic weakness in the default Java runtime environment configuration on Apple Mac OS X systems. This issue specifically affects Java 1.5 installations running on Mac OS X 10.5.4 and 10.5.5 operating system versions, where the default jurisdiction policy settings impose artificial limitations on cryptographic key sizes. The problem stems from the Java Cryptography Extension implementation that enforces a maximum key size of 128 bits for encryption algorithms, significantly weakening the security posture of applications relying on these cryptographic services.
The technical flaw manifests through the Java Cryptography Extension's jurisdiction policy files that are bundled with the default Java installation on these Mac OS X versions. These policy files contain restrictions that prevent the use of stronger cryptographic keys beyond the 128-bit limit, effectively creating a backdoor for attackers who can exploit this limitation to perform more efficient cryptanalysis attacks. The restriction specifically impacts the JCE providers and their ability to utilize stronger encryption algorithms, making the system vulnerable to attacks that would otherwise be computationally infeasible with properly configured cryptographic implementations. This limitation directly violates the fundamental principles of cryptographic strength and security assurance that should be maintained in enterprise and government applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple encryption weakness, creating opportunities for sophisticated attackers to compromise encrypted communications and data protection mechanisms. Attackers can leverage the 128-bit key limitation to perform more efficient brute-force attacks against encrypted data, potentially decrypting sensitive information without the need for extensive computational resources that would be required for 256-bit or stronger encryption. This vulnerability particularly affects applications that rely on Java-based cryptographic services for secure communications, file encryption, and digital signature validation. The weakness creates a significant risk for organizations that depend on Java applications for security-critical operations, as the reduced key strength effectively lowers the bar for successful cryptographic attacks.
Security professionals should address this vulnerability through immediate policy updates and configuration changes that remove the artificial key size limitations imposed by the default jurisdiction policy files. The recommended mitigation involves replacing the default policy files with unrestricted versions that allow the use of stronger cryptographic keys as specified in the Java Cryptography Extension documentation. Organizations should also implement monitoring systems to detect and alert on any attempts to utilize cryptographic services that might be affected by this restriction. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms and key sizes, and represents a clear violation of security best practices outlined in NIST Special Publication 800-57 for cryptographic key management. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability enables techniques related to credential access and defense evasion by weakening the cryptographic foundations that protect sensitive data and system integrity.