Quantum Secular Labs / Blog / Advisories
CVE-2017-13889: Apple Mac OS X: Improper Authentication
CVE-2017-13889 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.0 base score of 9.8 and NVD lists Apple Mac OS X as the affected product. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available.
Vulnerability description
In macOS High Sierra before 10.13.3, Security Update 2018-001 Sierra, and Security Update 2018-001 El Capitan, a logic error existed in the validation of credentials. This was addressed with improved credential validation.
Severity breakdown
CVSS v3.0 9.8: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
- Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
- Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
- User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
- Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
- Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
- Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.
Underlying weakness
CWE-287: Improper Authentication
When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
Affected products
- Apple Mac OS X: from 10.13.0 before 10.13.3