CVE-2017-13802 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 • 06/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13802 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 core rendering engine for Safari browsers and numerous other Apple applications across iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS platforms. The flaw exists in the way WebKit processes certain web content, creating opportunities for remote attackers to exploit memory management issues that can result in arbitrary code execution or system crashes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within the WebKit engine when processing crafted web content. Attackers can construct malicious websites that, when loaded in affected browsers or applications, trigger memory corruption conditions that allow for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and potential code execution. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that are commonly exploited in browser-based attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13802 extends across multiple Apple platforms and applications, creating a significant attack surface for threat actors. The vulnerability affects 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, indicating a widespread exposure across Apple's ecosystem. This broad impact means that users could be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious web pages, compromised websites, or even content delivered through email attachments that render in web browsers.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with tactics documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and "Command and Control" activities. Attackers can leverage this memory corruption flaw to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability also represents a significant concern for enterprise environments where Apple devices are prevalent, as it can be used to establish persistent access or to deploy additional malware payloads. Organizations should consider implementing network-based protections and monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability requires immediate patching across all affected platforms to prevent successful exploitation, as no reliable workarounds exist for this type of memory corruption issue. Apple's subsequent release of security updates addressed the root cause by fixing the memory management issues within the WebKit component, emphasizing the importance of timely patch management for maintaining system security.