CVE-2009-0014 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Folder Manager in Apple Mac OS X 10.5.6 uses insecure default permissions when recreating a Downloads folder after it has been deleted, which allows local users to bypass intended access restrictions and read the Downloads folder.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-0014 represents a critical access control flaw within Apple Mac OS X 10.5.6's Folder Manager component. This issue specifically manifests when a user deletes their Downloads folder and subsequently triggers the system to recreate it automatically. The flaw stems from the system's failure to properly enforce security permissions during the folder recreation process, creating a window of opportunity for unauthorized access. The vulnerability operates at the operating system level and affects the fundamental file system access controls that protect user data from unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the Folder Manager's default behavior of creating new Downloads folders with overly permissive access controls. When the Downloads folder is deleted and subsequently recreated, the system assigns default permissions that are significantly more open than intended, allowing local users to access files that should remain restricted. This insecure default permission setting creates a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by any local user with access to the system. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates silently in the background without alerting users to the compromised access controls, making it difficult to detect and remediate.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability compromises the confidentiality and integrity of user data stored within the Downloads folder. Local users can potentially access sensitive files, documents, and other data that was previously protected by the system's access controls. The vulnerability affects all users of Mac OS X 10.5.6 who have the ability to delete and recreate folders, which represents a significant portion of system users. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as data exfiltration, malware installation, or privilege escalation attempts. This vulnerability undermines the core security model of the operating system by allowing unauthorized access to user data through legitimate system operations.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-276, which addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1074.001 for data staging and T1003.001 for credential dumping. The vulnerability represents a privilege escalation vector that allows local users to bypass the intended security boundaries of the system. System administrators should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Mac OS X, manually verifying and correcting folder permissions, and monitoring for unauthorized access to user directories. The recommended remediation approach involves ensuring that all system folders are created with appropriate security permissions and that automatic folder recreation processes properly enforce access controls. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized folder modifications and access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.