CVE-2011-3213 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The File Systems component in Apple Mac OS X before 10.7.2 does not properly track the specific X.509 certificate that a user manually accepted for an initial https WebDAV connection, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to hijack WebDAV communication by presenting an arbitrary certificate for a subsequent connection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3213 represents a critical security flaw in Apple Mac OS X versions prior to 10.7.2 within the File Systems component. This issue stems from improper certificate tracking mechanisms during WebDAV connections, specifically when users manually accept X.509 certificates for initial HTTPS connections. The flaw creates a persistent security gap that allows malicious actors to exploit the trust relationship established during the initial connection phase.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the failure of the operating system to maintain proper certificate state tracking for WebDAV sessions. When a user manually accepts a certificate during the first WebDAV connection attempt, the system should establish a persistent trust relationship for that specific certificate. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to present different certificates during subsequent connections while maintaining the same host identity, effectively bypassing the certificate validation process that should prevent such impersonation attacks.
This security weakness directly impacts the integrity of WebDAV communications by enabling man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can intercept and manipulate data transfers between clients and servers. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack, specifically affecting the HTTPS protocol implementation within the WebDAV framework of Mac OS X. The flaw essentially creates a certificate trust model that is vulnerable to certificate substitution attacks, where an attacker can present an arbitrary certificate that the system will accept due to the lack of proper certificate binding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to include potential data corruption, unauthorized access to sensitive files, and complete compromise of WebDAV session integrity. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking, redirect users to malicious servers, or conduct credential theft operations against WebDAV services. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where WebDAV is commonly used for file sharing and collaboration, as it can lead to unauthorized access to corporate resources and sensitive business data.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 for data compression and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. The attack vector typically involves network-based interception where attackers position themselves between the client and server to present forged certificates. Mitigation strategies should include immediate system updates to Mac OS X 10.7.2 or later versions, implementation of proper certificate pinning mechanisms, and network monitoring to detect unusual certificate changes during WebDAV connections. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as mandatory certificate validation policies and regular security audits of WebDAV configurations.