CVE-2010-1828 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
AFP Server in Apple Mac OS X 10.5.8 and 10.6.x before 10.6.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and daemon restart) via crafted reconnect authentication packets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-1828 represents a critical flaw in Apple Mac OS X operating systems that affects the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) server implementation. This vulnerability exists in versions 10.5.8 and 10.6.x prior to 10.6.5, specifically targeting the AFP server daemon responsible for file sharing services. The flaw manifests as a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs when the system processes malformed authentication packets during the reconnect phase of AFP connections. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and memory management issues, which are commonly classified under CWE-476 as NULL Pointer Dereference, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.1 for network denial of service attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers craft specially designed authentication packets that trigger the AFP server daemon to attempt to dereference a NULL pointer during the reconnect authentication process. When the server encounters these malformed packets, it fails to properly validate the incoming data structure, leading to an attempt to access memory at address zero. This NULL pointer dereference causes the AFP daemon to crash and subsequently restarts the service, effectively creating a denial of service condition that disrupts legitimate file sharing operations for all connected clients. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication handshake mechanism that occurs when clients attempt to reconnect to the AFP server after network disruptions or session timeouts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it affects the reliability and availability of file sharing services within Mac OS X environments. Organizations relying on AFP for network file sharing operations face potential business interruption when attackers exploit this vulnerability, as the daemon restart creates temporary unavailability of shared resources. Network administrators may experience increased system monitoring overhead due to the repeated daemon restarts, and the vulnerability can be particularly problematic in enterprise environments where file servers are critical infrastructure components. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or local credentials to trigger the denial of service condition, making it a significant security concern for networked systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-1828 primarily focus on applying the official security patches released by Apple, which address the NULL pointer dereference issue in the AFP server implementation. System administrators should prioritize updating affected Mac OS X systems to version 10.6.5 or later, where the vulnerability has been resolved through proper input validation of authentication packets. Network segmentation and firewall rules can provide additional protection by limiting access to AFP services to trusted networks only, though this approach does not eliminate the vulnerability itself. Monitoring for unusual AFP daemon restart patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed authentication packets can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network services and aligns with security best practices outlined in the CWE guidelines for preventing memory corruption vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant file sharing solutions and backup access methods to maintain operational continuity in case of service disruption.