CVE-2013-0985 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Disk Management in Apple Mac OS X before 10.8.4 does not properly authenticate attempts to disable FileVault, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (loss of encryption functionality) via an unspecified command line.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0985 resides within the Disk Management subsystem of Apple Mac OS X operating systems prior to version 10.8.4. This flaw represents a critical authentication bypass issue that directly impacts the FileVault full-disk encryption feature. The vulnerability stems from insufficient verification mechanisms during FileVault disablement operations, creating a pathway for unauthorized local users to manipulate encryption settings without proper authorization. The affected system components operate under the assumption that legitimate administrative commands will be properly authenticated, but this assumption fails when malicious or unauthorized users exploit the authentication gap.
This technical weakness manifests through command line interfaces that control FileVault operations, where the system fails to validate user credentials or administrative privileges before executing disable commands. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, specifically focusing on insufficient authentication mechanisms. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute unauthorized FileVault disablement operations, effectively removing encryption protection from disk volumes. The command line interface in question likely processes administrative operations without verifying that the executing user possesses the necessary privileges or has undergone proper authentication procedures. This authentication failure creates a persistent security weakness that undermines the fundamental purpose of full-disk encryption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to represent a significant compromise of data security integrity. When FileVault encryption is disabled without proper authorization, users face immediate risk of data exposure, as encrypted volumes become accessible to unauthorized parties. The loss of encryption functionality creates a persistent threat vector where sensitive information stored on the system becomes vulnerable to theft, manipulation, or unauthorized access. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where FileVault serves as a critical security control for protecting corporate data, potentially enabling lateral movement and data exfiltration attacks. The impact is amplified because the vulnerability only requires local access, making it exploitable by users with physical or network access to the system, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1003.001 for Credential Dumping and T1486 for Data Encrypted for Ransom.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including prompt deployment of Apple's security updates to Mac OS X 10.8.4 and subsequent versions that address the authentication bypass. System administrators must ensure that FileVault configuration policies are properly enforced and regularly audited to detect unauthorized modifications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper privilege separation and authentication controls in system management interfaces. Additional protective measures include implementing strong access controls, monitoring for unauthorized FileVault operations, and maintaining comprehensive system integrity checks. Security teams should also consider network segmentation and access control policies to limit local user privileges and reduce the attack surface. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated system configurations to ensure that FileVault functionality operates correctly and that authentication mechanisms properly validate administrative operations. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust access control measures for system management functions.