CVE-2017-13869 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 bypass intended memory-read restrictions via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13869 represents a critical kernel-level memory protection flaw affecting multiple Apple operating systems including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This weakness resides within the kernel component of Apple's operating systems, specifically targeting memory read restrictions that are fundamental to system security and isolation mechanisms. The vulnerability enables attackers to craft malicious applications that can bypass intended memory access controls, potentially allowing unauthorized data reading across system boundaries.
The technical nature of this flaw involves a bypass of kernel memory protection mechanisms that are designed to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive memory regions. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically involving improper access control at the kernel level. The attack vector requires a crafted application that exploits the kernel's memory management subsystem to circumvent the normal security boundaries that should protect system memory from unauthorized access. This represents a privilege escalation vulnerability where an application can gain access to memory regions that should be restricted to kernel-level operations or other privileged processes.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13869 is significant as it allows attackers to potentially access sensitive system data, kernel memory contents, and potentially other applications' memory spaces. This type of vulnerability can enable data theft, system compromise, and the execution of malicious code with elevated privileges. The affected versions represent a broad range of Apple's mobile and desktop operating systems, making the attack surface particularly wide. The vulnerability affects iOS versions before 11.2, macOS versions before 10.13.2, tvOS versions before 11.2, and watchOS versions before 4.2, indicating this was a widespread kernel-level flaw that required patching across multiple device categories.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1068 Privilege Escalation and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers could leverage the memory access bypass to execute code with higher privileges or extract sensitive information. The vulnerability also relates to T1543 Create or Modify System Process, as it could enable attackers to modify system processes or access kernel-level components that should remain protected. The attack requires a malicious application to be installed and executed, making it a form of application-based attack that leverages kernel-level weaknesses to achieve system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13869 primarily involve updating affected systems to the patched versions of Apple's operating systems. Apple released updates for iOS 11.2, macOS 10.13.2, tvOS 11.2, and watchOS 4.2 that address this kernel memory access control issue. System administrators should prioritize these updates across all affected devices, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple Apple devices may be in use. Additionally, users should avoid installing untrusted applications and maintain updated security software. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel-level security controls and demonstrates the critical nature of maintaining up-to-date system patches to prevent exploitation of fundamental security mechanisms.