Authorization / Mach-O Entitlements

Description

Mach-O Entitlements is a type of IT vulnerability that is classified as an Authorization issue. This vulnerability is present in both iOS and Mobile App operating systems, and it is listed as CWE-269 in the Common Weakness Enumeration directory. According to the OWASP Testing Guide, Mach-O Entitlements is a type of vulnerability that occurs when the application does not properly enforce authorization rules, allowing unauthorized users to access the application.

Risk

The risk associated with Mach-O Entitlements is that unauthorized users can gain access to the application. This can lead to data loss, manipulation of the application, or even complete takeover of the system. Evaluating the risk level of a Mach-O Entitlements vulnerability should be done on a case-by-case basis, as the severity of the vulnerability can vary.

Solution

The solution to Mach-O Entitlements is to properly enforce authorization rules within the application. This can be done by using authentication methods such as passwords, two-factor authentication, or biometric authentication. Additionally, access control rules should be implemented to ensure that only authorized users are able to access the application.

Example

This example, taken from the CVE directory, shows a Mach-O Entitlements vulnerability in an iOS application:

<key>Entitlements</key>
<dict>
  <key>application-identifier</key>
  <string>com.example.app</string>
  <key>com.apple.developer.team-identifier</key>
  <string>ABCD1234EF</string>
  <key>get-task-allow</key>
  <true/>
</dict>

In this code, the application is missing a key for “get-task-allow”, which allows unauthorized users to access the application.