CVE-2010-1830 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 generates different error messages depending on whether a share exists, which allows remote attackers to enumerate valid share names via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1830 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Apple Mac OS X AFP (Apple Filing Protocol) server implementations. This weakness affects versions 10.5.8 and 10.6.x prior to 10.6.5, where the AFP server exhibits inconsistent error handling behavior that inadvertently reveals the existence of specific network shares to unauthorized remote attackers. The vulnerability stems from the server's differential response mechanism that generates distinct error messages when attempting to access non-existent shares versus existing shares, creating a side-channel information leak that can be exploited for reconnaissance purposes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which describes improper error handling that may reveal sensitive information to attackers. The AFP server's inconsistent error messaging creates a predictable pattern that attackers can leverage to enumerate valid share names through systematic testing of various share names. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and defense in depth, as it provides attackers with actionable intelligence about the network share structure without requiring authentication or authorization. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability can be exploited through multiple attack surfaces including network-based scanning and automated enumeration tools.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to conduct more sophisticated reconnaissance activities that could lead to further exploitation. By identifying valid share names, attackers can focus their efforts on specific targets rather than conducting broad, inefficient scans across the entire network. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1592 (Gather Victim Host Information), as it provides attackers with critical information about the target environment's file sharing structure. The ability to enumerate valid shares creates a foundation for subsequent attacks including unauthorized data access, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application of Apple's security patches released as part of Mac OS X 10.6.5 update, which addressed the inconsistent error handling behavior. Network administrators should implement additional protective measures such as restricting AFP server access to trusted network segments, disabling unnecessary shares, and implementing network segmentation to limit the impact of successful enumeration attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of share enumeration attempts, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar information disclosure vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of consistent error handling practices in server implementations and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing that includes evaluation of error message consistency and information leakage potential.