# CVE-2009-0138: Auth bypass in n/a

> Remote attackers can bypass authentication in macOS Server Manager to modify system configuration without credentials.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Feb 2009
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7q43-2269-fjqm

## What is CVE-2009-0138?

CVE-2009-0138 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 13 Feb 2009. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

servermgrd (Server Manager) in Apple Mac OS X 10.5.6 does not properly validate authentication credentials, which allows remote attackers to modify the system configuration.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2009-0138?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Apple Mac Os X, Apple Mac Os X Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2009-0138?

No fix has been published for CVE-2009-0138 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2009-0138 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2009-0138 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Mac Os X

- [CVE-2014-7169](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7169/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6271](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6271/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2012-1823](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1823/): PHP-CGI Query String Parameter (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30713](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30713/): Apple macOS Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-8526](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8526/): Apple macOS Use-After-Free (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2009-0138 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2009-0138 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 13 Feb 2009. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2009-0138 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apple Mac Os X. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0138/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0138/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-0138
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-0138
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2009-0138

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0138/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.