CVE-2017-13794 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 • 04/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13794 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affects multiple platforms and applications. This issue resides in the core web browsing component that powers Safari, iOS web views, and various other Apple applications that utilize WebKit for rendering web content. The vulnerability specifically impacts iOS versions prior to 11.1, Safari versions before 11.0.1, iCloud for Windows versions before 7.1, iTunes for Windows versions before 12.7.1, and tvOS versions before 11.1, demonstrating the widespread nature of the flaw across Apple's ecosystem. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-125, which represents "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for "Exploitation for Client Execution" as it enables remote code execution through web-based attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a memory corruption issue that occurs when WebKit processes specially crafted web content. Attackers can construct malicious websites that, when loaded in affected browsers or applications, trigger memory corruption errors leading to arbitrary code execution or application crashes. The flaw likely stems from insufficient bounds checking or improper memory management within WebKit's JavaScript engine or HTML parsing components. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely through web browsers without requiring any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it a prime target for drive-by attacks. The memory corruption aspect suggests that the flaw may involve heap corruption, buffer overflows, or use-after-free conditions that allow attackers to overwrite critical memory locations.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13794 extends beyond simple application instability, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. This means that successfully exploiting the vulnerability could allow remote attackers to gain full control over affected devices, potentially leading to data theft, persistent backdoor installation, or further network reconnaissance. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but also enterprise environments where Apple devices are prevalent, as the remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can compromise systems without physical access or user interaction. Organizations using affected versions of Apple software may experience significant security risks including unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, potential lateral movement within networks, and the possibility of establishing persistent threat presence on compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13794 primarily focus on immediate patching and system updates to the affected Apple software versions. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected iOS devices, macOS systems, and Windows applications to their latest versions that contain the security fixes. Network administrators should implement web filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains and consider deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping their Apple software up to date. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual network traffic patterns or system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining comprehensive software inventory tracking to identify all potentially affected systems across the enterprise environment.