CVE-2009-2201 in Xsan
Summary
by MITRE
The screensharing feature in the Admin application in Apple Xsan before 2.2 places a cleartext username and password in a URL within an error dialog, which allows physically proximate attackers to obtain credentials by reading this dialog.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2201 affects Apple Xsan storage systems prior to version 2.2, specifically within the Admin application's screensharing feature. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that exposes authentication credentials through improper error handling mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests when the system encounters an error during screensharing operations, causing it to display an error dialog containing a URL with cleartext credentials embedded within the Uniform Resource Identifier. This design flaw creates an exploitable condition where attackers with physical proximity to the affected system can simply observe the error dialog to extract sensitive authentication information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or encrypt authentication parameters before including them in error messages. When screensharing fails, the system constructs a URL containing the username and password in plain text format, which is then displayed in a dialog box that is visible to anyone in the vicinity of the device. This approach violates fundamental security principles regarding credential handling and demonstrates a lack of proper input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-200 (Information Exposure) within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, highlighting the exposure of sensitive data through improper handling of authentication information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Apple Xsan storage systems, as it provides attackers with a straightforward method to obtain administrative credentials without requiring advanced exploitation techniques. Physically proximate attackers can simply observe the error dialog on the screen to extract the cleartext username and password, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the storage system and all associated data. This threat vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical skill and can be executed by anyone with physical access to the device, making it a serious concern for environments where such proximity is possible. The vulnerability creates an immediate risk of unauthorized access and potential data compromise, as the extracted credentials can be used to authenticate to the system and potentially escalate privileges.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Apple Xsan version 2.2 or later, which addresses this specific vulnerability through improved error handling mechanisms that prevent cleartext credentials from appearing in error dialogs. System administrators should also consider implementing additional physical security measures to limit unauthorized access to systems displaying sensitive information, and deploy screen protection measures where necessary. The mitigation strategy should align with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 (Credentials in Files) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) by preventing the exposure of credentials through improper error handling and ensuring that authentication information is properly protected during system operations. Regular security assessments and monitoring for similar credential exposure vulnerabilities should be conducted to maintain system integrity and prevent future incidents of this nature.