CVE-2011-0207 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The MobileMe component in Apple Mac OS X before 10.6.8 uses a cleartext HTTP session for the Mail application to read e-mail aliases, which allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive alias information by sniffing the network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-0207 represents a significant security flaw in Apple Mac OS X versions prior to 10.6.8, specifically within the MobileMe service component that handles email alias management. This issue stems from the improper use of unencrypted communication protocols when transmitting sensitive user data. The MobileMe service, which provided cloud-based email and synchronization services for Mac users, was configured to utilize cleartext HTTP sessions for retrieving email aliases, creating an exploitable weakness in the system's security architecture. This flaw directly violates fundamental security principles regarding the protection of sensitive information in transit.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the network communication layer where the Mail application establishes connections to MobileMe services to fetch email alias configurations. Instead of employing secure encrypted protocols such as HTTPS or TLS, the system defaults to plain HTTP communication, which exposes all transmitted data to passive network monitoring. This cleartext transmission includes potentially sensitive alias information that could reveal user email addresses, contact details, and other personal identifiers that might be used for social engineering attacks or identity theft. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-319 (Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information) as it involves the transmission of sensitive data without proper encryption mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for attackers to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks and network sniffing operations against users of affected Mac OS X systems. Remote attackers who can intercept network traffic between the Mail application and MobileMe services can easily extract email alias information, which may include personal contact details, organizational email addresses, and other sensitive identifiers. This information can be leveraged for targeted phishing campaigns, credential harvesting, or other advanced persistent threats. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to even moderately skilled attackers. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1041 (Exfiltration Over C2 Channel) and T1566 (Phishing) as it enables both data exfiltration and social engineering opportunities through the exposure of sensitive information.
Organizations and individual users affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later versions where Apple addressed the issue through proper encryption implementation. System administrators should also consider implementing network monitoring tools to detect and alert on suspicious HTTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include deploying network segmentation strategies to limit exposure, implementing intrusion detection systems, and educating users about the risks of unsecured network connections. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of secure communication protocols in client-server applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create substantial security risks. Apple's subsequent patch resolved the issue by enforcing encrypted communication channels for MobileMe services, aligning with industry best practices for protecting sensitive user information in transit. This case study exemplifies the importance of adhering to security standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-52 and ISO/IEC 27001, which emphasize the need for encrypted data transmission and proper security configuration management.