CVE-2009-2192 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
MobileMe in Apple Mac OS X 10.5 before 10.5.8 does not properly delete credentials upon signout from the preference pane, which makes it easier for attackers to hijack a MobileMe session via unspecified vectors, related to a "logic issue."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2192 represents a critical session management flaw in Apple's MobileMe service implementation within Mac OS X 10.5 operating system versions prior to 10.5.8. This issue stems from a fundamental logic error in how the system handles credential disposal during user signout processes, creating persistent security risks that extend beyond the intended scope of user authentication termination. The flaw specifically affects the preference pane interface where MobileMe credentials are managed, leaving behind residual authentication tokens that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as a failure in proper credential cleanup mechanisms during the signout operation. When users attempt to terminate their MobileMe session through the system preference pane, the underlying implementation does not adequately purge sensitive authentication data from memory or storage locations. This incomplete cleanup creates a window of opportunity for attackers to leverage these retained credentials, potentially enabling session hijacking attacks that fall under the broader category of credential theft and unauthorized access exploitation. The vulnerability's classification as a logic issue indicates that the problem lies in the programmatic flow rather than a direct code execution flaw, making it particularly insidious as it operates within normal user interaction patterns.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly weakens the security posture of affected Mac systems by creating persistent session tokens that remain accessible even after legitimate user logout. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness through various vectors including man-in-the-middle attacks, session replay techniques, or by leveraging the retained credentials in conjunction with other exploitation methods. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially enable broader compromise of user accounts, as MobileMe credentials often serve as gateways to additional services and data repositories. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where MobileMe integration might be used for corporate email, calendar, and contact synchronization services, creating potential data exfiltration risks.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several established frameworks including CWE-200 for exposure of sensitive information and CWE-306 for missing authentication. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 for credential harvesting and T1078 for valid accounts, as attackers could leverage the retained credentials to establish persistent access. The remediation approach requires immediate patch deployment to update Mac OS X to version 10.5.8 or later, which includes corrected credential management routines. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns and consider temporary credential rotation for affected systems. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected systems and ensure proper patch management processes are in place to prevent similar logic flaws from persisting in other applications and services.