CVE-2013-0990 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
SMB in Apple Mac OS X before 10.8.4, when file sharing is enabled, allows remote authenticated users to create or modify files outside of a shared directory via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0990 represents a significant security flaw in Apple Mac OS X operating systems prior to version 10.8.4, specifically affecting the Server Message Block implementation within the file sharing functionality. This issue stems from improper access control mechanisms that permit authenticated remote attackers to manipulate files beyond the boundaries of their designated shared directories, effectively creating a privilege escalation vector through file system traversal techniques.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient validation of file paths during SMB operations when file sharing is enabled on Mac OS X systems. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific SMB requests that manipulate file paths to traverse directory structures, allowing them to create or modify files in locations outside of the intended shared directory scope. This flaw operates at the protocol level where the SMB implementation fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied path information, enabling arbitrary file system modifications. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22 as a "Path Traversal" weakness, where an attacker can manipulate file paths to access resources outside the intended directory structure.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0990 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it provides attackers with the capability to potentially compromise the entire system through file modification attacks. An authenticated user with access to the SMB service can exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious content into system directories, modify critical configuration files, or establish persistent backdoors within the file system. This represents a serious threat to system integrity and confidentiality, particularly in environments where Mac OS X servers are configured to share files with multiple users or external clients. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely, allowing attackers to maintain persistence on systems without requiring physical access or elevated privileges beyond basic authentication credentials.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1078 technique for Valid Accounts and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage legitimate authentication mechanisms to execute malicious file operations. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to broader compromise through file-based attacks such as T1064 for persistence mechanisms or T1074 for data collection. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Mac OS X 10.8.4 or later versions, disabling SMB file sharing when not required, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable systems. Additionally, monitoring SMB traffic for unusual path traversal patterns and implementing proper access controls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in network services and the potential consequences of inadequate path sanitization in file system operations.