CVE-2010-1838 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Directory Services in Apple Mac OS X 10.5.8 and 10.6.x before 10.6.5 does not properly handle errors associated with disabled mobile accounts, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication by providing a valid account name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-1838 resides within Apple Mac OS X directory services implementation, specifically affecting versions 10.5.8 and 10.6.x prior to 10.6.5. This authentication flaw stems from improper error handling mechanisms when processing disabled mobile accounts within the directory services framework. The issue manifests when the system fails to adequately validate or reject authentication attempts from accounts that have been disabled, creating a potential bypass mechanism for unauthorized access.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and more specifically relates to CWE-305, which deals with authentication bypass through use of weak authentication methods. The flaw occurs in the directory services subsystem where the system does not properly distinguish between valid and invalid account states during authentication processes. When a mobile account is disabled, the directory services should reject authentication attempts outright, but instead the system continues to process these requests through a flawed error handling path.
This vulnerability operates under the ATT&CK framework category of Credential Access - Brute Force/Password Guessing, specifically mapping to technique T1110.003 which involves the use of password spraying or credential stuffing attacks. The operational impact of this flaw allows remote attackers to exploit the authentication bypass by simply providing a valid account name, without requiring knowledge of the password. This creates a significant security risk as it effectively enables unauthorized access to systems where mobile accounts have been disabled but not properly secured.
The attack vector leverages the fact that directory services continue to process authentication requests for disabled accounts, potentially allowing attackers to enumerate valid accounts within the system. This enumeration capability combined with the authentication bypass creates a scenario where unauthorized users can gain access to systems that should have restricted access due to disabled mobile accounts. The vulnerability particularly affects environments using mobile accounts for user management, where account disabling is a standard security practice.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Mac OS X 10.6.5 or later versions that contain the patched directory services implementation. System administrators should also review and audit mobile account configurations to ensure proper account disabling procedures are enforced. Additional defensive measures include implementing account lockout policies, monitoring authentication logs for suspicious activity, and ensuring that directory services are properly configured to reject authentication attempts from disabled accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper error handling in authentication systems and highlights the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches to prevent exploitation of such fundamental flaws in operating system components.