CVE-2017-13797 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 • 05/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13797 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affects multiple operating systems and applications. This vulnerability specifically targets the WebKit component which serves as the foundation for Safari web browser functionality across Apple's ecosystem. The flaw exists in iOS versions prior to 11.1, Safari versions prior to 11.0.1, iCloud applications on Windows versions prior to 7.1, iTunes on Windows versions prior to 12.7.1, and tvOS versions prior to 11.1. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the WebKit engine's handling of crafted web content, creating a potential pathway for remote code execution attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. Attackers can exploit this weakness by hosting malicious web content that, when loaded through affected Apple applications, triggers memory corruption within the WebKit engine. The exploitation mechanism typically involves carefully crafted HTML, JavaScript, or multimedia content that manipulates memory pointers or buffer boundaries in ways that cause the application to execute unintended code or crash entirely. This type of vulnerability represents a classic remote code execution vector that can be delivered through web-based attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in the context of modern internet browsing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across Apple's entire ecosystem, affecting users who rely on Safari browsers, iCloud synchronization services, iTunes media management, and tvOS entertainment systems. The remote nature of the attack means that users do not need to download or install anything beyond visiting a malicious website to potentially compromise their systems. This vulnerability creates significant risk for enterprise environments where users may inadvertently visit compromised websites, and for individual users who browse the internet without proper security measures. The memory corruption aspect can lead to both persistent remote code execution capabilities and denial of service conditions that can render applications unusable. Security researchers have documented that such vulnerabilities can be leveraged to establish persistent backdoors or escalate privileges within affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13797 require immediate patching of all affected Apple products to the latest versions that contain the WebKit memory management fixes. Organizations should implement network-based security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to block access to known malicious domains. Browser security configurations should be hardened through the implementation of sandboxing mechanisms and strict content security policies. Users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping their Apple software updated. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, highlighting the potential for attackers to use such vulnerabilities to gain deeper system access. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar memory corruption issues within the broader Apple ecosystem. The patching process should be prioritized based on risk assessment of affected systems, with critical infrastructure components receiving immediate attention to prevent exploitation attempts.