CVE-2018-4470 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
A privacy issue in the handling of Open Directory records was addressed with improved indexing. This issue affected versions prior to macOS High Sierra 10.13.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4470 represents a privacy flaw within macOS High Sierra systems prior to version 10.13.6, specifically concerning the management and handling of Open Directory records. Open Directory is Apple's directory services framework that provides centralized user authentication and authorization services, particularly important in enterprise environments where multiple users access shared resources through directory services. The flaw manifested in how the system indexed and processed these directory records, creating potential exposure of sensitive user information through improper access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate indexing mechanisms within the Open Directory subsystem. When processing directory records, the system failed to properly isolate or restrict access to certain user attributes and metadata that should have remained confidential. This weakness allowed unauthorized access to potentially sensitive information that was part of the directory service records, particularly affecting how the system managed and retrieved user data during authentication and authorization processes. The flaw existed in the underlying database indexing logic that governs how directory entries are stored and accessed within the Open Directory framework, creating a potential information disclosure vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it could enable attackers to gather detailed information about users within an organization's directory services. This includes potentially sensitive attributes such as user identifiers, group memberships, and other directory-related metadata that could be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability particularly affected enterprise environments where macOS systems are integrated with directory services, as it could allow for reconnaissance activities that might lead to privilege escalation or targeted attacks against specific user accounts. Organizations relying on Open Directory for user management and authentication faced increased risk of information disclosure that could compromise their overall security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-4470 primarily involve updating to macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 or later versions where Apple implemented improved indexing mechanisms to properly handle Open Directory records. System administrators should ensure all macOS systems within their environment are updated to the patched versions to eliminate the vulnerability. Additional security measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to directory services, monitoring directory service access logs for unusual activity, and ensuring proper access controls are in place for directory records. Organizations should also review their directory service configurations to minimize the exposure of sensitive attributes and implement proper auditing procedures to detect potential unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and could potentially be leveraged in techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation tactics.
The resolution of this vulnerability demonstrates Apple's approach to addressing privacy concerns in directory services by strengthening the indexing mechanisms that govern how directory records are processed and accessed. The fix specifically targeted the underlying implementation issues in the Open Directory subsystem, ensuring that sensitive user information is properly isolated and that access controls are enforced during record retrieval operations. This represents a critical improvement in macOS security posture, particularly for enterprise environments where directory services play a fundamental role in user authentication and access control management.