CVE-2013-0984 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Directory Service in Apple Mac OS X through 10.6.8 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a crafted message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0984 resides within the Directory Service component of Apple Mac OS X versions 10.6.8 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through malformed message delivery. This vulnerability specifically affects the directory service daemon which manages user authentication and directory information services across macOS systems. The flaw manifests when the daemon processes crafted malicious messages that exploit improper input validation mechanisms within its message handling routines.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking and input sanitization within the Directory Service daemon's processing pipeline. When the daemon receives a specially crafted message, it fails to properly validate the message structure and content, leading to memory corruption or unexpected behavior that can be exploited by remote attackers. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are common in buffer overflow scenarios. The attack vector operates over network protocols used by directory services, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without local access to the target system.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0984 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full remote code execution capabilities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain unauthorized access to the system with the privileges of the directory service daemon, which typically runs with elevated privileges. This could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects enterprise environments where macOS systems are integrated with directory services, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on centralized user management and authentication systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected macOS systems to the latest available security updates from Apple. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to directory services and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious message patterns. The remediation process should also include disabling unnecessary directory service functionality and implementing strict firewall rules to restrict access to directory service ports. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and remote code execution, specifically T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation and T1133 for external remote services. System administrators should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running unsupported macOS versions that may be susceptible to similar vulnerabilities in the directory service stack.