CVE-2017-13795 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 • 04/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13795 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affected 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 web content rendering. The flaw manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that occurs when processing specially crafted web content, allowing remote attackers to exploit this weakness through malicious websites without requiring any user interaction beyond visiting the compromised site.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it within the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The flaw operates at the intersection of browser security and memory management, where WebKit's handling of malformed web content triggers unpredictable memory behavior that attackers can leverage for exploitation. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer and can be triggered remotely through standard web browsing activities, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to compromise user systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13795 extends across Apple's entire ecosystem, affecting 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. The vulnerability's reach encompasses not just mobile devices but also desktop applications and operating systems, creating a broad attack surface that could potentially allow threat actors to gain unauthorized access to user devices. The remote code execution capability means that attackers could install malware, steal sensitive data, or maintain persistent access to compromised systems without requiring physical access or user consent.
Security researchers have documented this vulnerability as part of the broader ATT&CK framework's initial access and execution tactics, where attackers can leverage web-based exploits to establish footholds within target environments. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly effective for drive-by download attacks and social engineering campaigns. Organizations and individuals who relied on Apple products for web browsing and cloud services were particularly vulnerable, as the attack vector could be delivered through standard internet browsing activities, potentially affecting users in corporate networks, educational institutions, and personal computing environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13795 required immediate system updates to patch the WebKit component across all affected Apple platforms. Apple released security updates for iOS 11.1, Safari 11.0.1, iCloud 7.1, iTunes 12.7.1, and tvOS 11.1, which addressed the memory corruption issues in the WebKit rendering engine. The recommended approach included updating all affected Apple products to their respective patched versions, implementing network-level protections such as web filters and intrusion detection systems, and monitoring for suspicious network traffic or system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security professionals also advised organizations to conduct vulnerability assessments to identify systems that remained unpatched and to implement additional security controls to protect against similar future vulnerabilities in web browsing components.