CVE-2013-1027 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Installer in Apple Mac OS X before 10.8.5 provides an option to continue a package s installation after encountering a revoked certificate, which might allow user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted package.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1027 resides within the installer component of Apple Mac OS X operating systems prior to version 10.8.5, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity verification mechanisms designed to protect system installations. This weakness specifically manifests in the installer's handling of certificate validation processes, where the system fails to properly enforce certificate revocation checks during package installation procedures. The vulnerability stems from the installer's permissive approach to certificate validation, allowing installations to proceed even when encountering revoked certificates from the Certificate Authority, thereby creating an exploitable condition that could be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the installer's certificate validation logic failing to properly verify the current status of certificates within the trust chain. When a package installer encounters a certificate that has been revoked by its issuing authority, the system should terminate the installation process to prevent potential compromise. However, in affected versions of Mac OS X, the installer continues execution despite encountering revoked certificates, creating a scenario where attackers can craft malicious packages with revoked certificates that will still install successfully on vulnerable systems. This behavior directly violates the fundamental security principle of certificate validation and trust management that is essential for maintaining system integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple installation risks, as it creates a persistent attack vector that can be exploited by remote adversaries to execute arbitrary code on target systems. Attackers can craft specially designed packages containing revoked certificates that, when installed, can bypass the normal security checks that would typically prevent malicious software from being installed. This user-assisted remote attack model means that an attacker would need to convince a user to install a malicious package, but once installed, the compromised system could be fully compromised. The vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where users may be prompted to install software packages from untrusted sources, creating multiple potential entry points for attackers.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, and demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date certificate revocation lists and proper trust validation procedures. The issue also relates to ATT&CK technique T1059, where adversaries leverage system vulnerabilities to execute malicious code through compromised installation processes. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Mac OS X 10.8.5 or later, where Apple addressed this vulnerability through enhanced certificate validation procedures. Additionally, system administrators should monitor and restrict package installation privileges, implement code signing verification policies, and conduct regular security assessments to identify potentially compromised systems. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of maintaining robust certificate management practices and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in trust validation can create significant security risks in operating system installation processes.