CVE-2017-13792 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.1 is affected. Safari before 11.0.1 is affected. iCloud before 7.1 on Windows is affected. iTunes before 12.7.1 on Windows is affected. tvOS before 11.1 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13792 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affects multiple Apple platforms and applications. This vulnerability resides in the core web browsing component that powers Safari, iOS web views, and various other Apple applications that utilize WebKit for displaying web content. The flaw manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that occurs when processing maliciously crafted web content, allowing remote attackers to exploit this weakness through web-based attack vectors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it within CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The flaw specifically affects WebKit's handling of certain web page elements, particularly those involving JavaScript execution and DOM manipulation, where improper input validation and memory management create opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code. Attackers can craft web pages that, when loaded in affected browsers or applications, trigger the memory corruption that leads to full system compromise or application crashes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple Apple ecosystems, affecting iOS versions prior to 11.1, Safari versions before 11.0.1, iCloud for Windows before version 7.1, iTunes for Windows before version 12.7.1, and tvOS before 11.1. This broad scope means that users across various Apple platforms are at risk, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities. The vulnerability can be leveraged to achieve persistent remote code execution, potentially allowing attackers to gain complete control over affected devices, access user data, or establish backdoors for continued unauthorized access.
From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1070 for indicator removal on host. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it can be exploited through social engineering campaigns where users are directed to malicious websites, or through compromised legitimate websites that have been injected with malicious code. The exploitation typically requires no user interaction beyond visiting the malicious website, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise and consumer environments alike.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13792 require immediate patching of all affected Apple products, with particular emphasis on the iOS 11.1 update, Safari 11.0.1 update, iCloud 7.1 update, iTunes 12.7.1 update, and tvOS 11.1 update. Organizations should implement network-based protections such as web proxies with content filtering and sandboxing measures to prevent access to known malicious domains. Browser hardening techniques including disabling JavaScript on untrusted sites, implementing strict content security policies, and using browser isolation technologies can provide additional layers of protection. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual network traffic patterns and application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to detect and block malicious code execution patterns associated with memory corruption exploits.