CVE-2017-13867 in watchOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.2 is affected. macOS before 10.13.2 is affected. tvOS before 11.2 is affected. watchOS before 4.2 is affected. The issue involves the "Kernel" component. It allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2025
This vulnerability resides within the kernel component of affected Apple operating systems, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that affects multiple device families including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. The kernel serves as the core operating system component responsible for system-level operations and memory management, making any vulnerability within this realm particularly dangerous as it can provide attackers with elevated privileges beyond normal application boundaries. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be triggered through a specially crafted application, allowing adversaries to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges rather than the typical user-level restrictions imposed on regular applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability enables attackers to bypass standard security mechanisms that normally isolate user applications from critical system resources. When an attacker crafts a malicious application that exploits this kernel flaw, the system's memory management functions become corrupted, creating opportunities for unauthorized code execution in the most privileged execution context possible. This type of vulnerability directly relates to common weakness enumerations such as CWE-119, which describes "Improper Access to Memory" and CWE-787, which addresses "Out-of-bounds Write." The memory corruption aspect suggests that the kernel's handling of memory allocation and deallocation contains flaws that can be manipulated to overwrite critical system structures or execute unintended code sequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can potentially lead to complete system compromise and persistent access for attackers. Once an attacker gains kernel-level execution capabilities, they can manipulate system processes, install backdoors, modify security settings, and access all system resources including user data, network communications, and device functionality. This vulnerability affects devices running versions prior to the specified security updates, meaning that users who have not applied the necessary patches remain at significant risk of exploitation. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where compromised devices could serve as entry points for broader network infiltration.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application across all affected device types, with particular attention to the specific version requirements outlined in the security advisories. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all devices within their environment receive the necessary security updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and highlights the risks associated with delaying critical updates, as the kernel-level nature of the flaw means that any unpatched system represents a significant security risk. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting and device management policies to reduce the attack surface and limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.