MacOS 10.13 root Authentication Bypass (Security Update 2017-001)

high Nessus Plugin ID 104814

Synopsis

The remote host is running a version of MacOS that is affected by a root authentication bypass vulnerability.

Description

The remote host is running a version of MacOS 10.13 or 10.13.1 that is missing a security update. It is, therefore, affected by a root authentication bypass vulnerability. A local attacker or a remote attacker with credentials for a standard user account has the ability to blank out the root account password. This can allow an attacker to escalate privileges to root and execute commands and read files as a system administrator.

Solution

Install Security Update 2017-001 or later. Alternatively, enable the root account and set a strong root account password.

See Also

http://www.nessus.org/u?2cf4b55a

http://www.nessus.org/u?9ff9ff45

http://www.nessus.org/u?1e5890f3

http://www.nessus.org/u?f367aab4

http://www.nessus.org/u?f9f9bbc3

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208315

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 104814

File Name: macosx_high_sierra_empty_root_password.nasl

Version: 1.15

Type: local

Agent: macosx

Published: 11/28/2017

Updated: 11/27/2023

Supported Sensors: Nessus Agent, Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: High

Score: 7.4

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 9.3

Temporal Score: 7.7

Vector: CVSS2#AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2017-13872

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 8.1

Temporal Score: 7.5

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Temporal Vector: CVSS:3.0/E:F/RL:O/RC:C

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/o:apple:mac_os_x, cpe:/o:apple:macos

Required KB Items: Host/local_checks_enabled, Host/MacOSX/Version

Exploit Available: true

Exploit Ease: Exploits are available

Patch Publication Date: 11/29/2017

Vulnerability Publication Date: 11/28/2017

Exploitable With

Metasploit (Mac OS X Root Privilege Escalation)

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2017-13872

BID: 101981

APPLE-SA: APPLE-SA-2017-11-29-1