CVE-2017-13880 in watchOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/23/2021
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 11.2, watchOS 4.2. An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privilege.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13880 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that existed in Apple's iOS and watchOS operating systems prior to their respective version 11.2 and 4.2 releases. This issue stems from inadequate memory handling mechanisms within the kernel space of these mobile operating systems, creating a potential pathway for malicious applications to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with the highest level of system permissions. The flaw demonstrates the classic characteristics of a kernel-level vulnerability that can fundamentally compromise the security posture of mobile devices.
The technical nature of this memory corruption vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption. The flaw likely involves improper bounds checking or memory allocation handling within kernel components that process application requests or system calls. When an application exploits this vulnerability, it can manipulate memory regions that should remain protected, potentially allowing code execution in kernel space where administrative privileges are already granted. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the lowest privilege level of the operating system, making it extremely difficult to detect and defend against through traditional application-level security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13880 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to gain complete control over affected devices. Mobile devices running vulnerable versions of iOS or watchOS become susceptible to persistent malware installations that can monitor user activities, exfiltrate sensitive data, or maintain backdoor access. The vulnerability affects not just individual applications but the entire operating system kernel, meaning that once exploited, the attacker's code can operate with unrestricted access to all system resources, including user data, network communications, and hardware components. This represents a severe compromise of device integrity and user privacy.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to the patched versions of iOS 11.2 and watchOS 4.2, which contain the necessary memory handling improvements and bounds checking mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected devices receive updates promptly. Security professionals should also consider deploying mobile device management solutions that can monitor for suspicious application behavior and enforce security policies that prevent the installation of untrusted applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of kernel-level security hardening and proper memory management practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1055 for privilege escalation and T1068 for locally executed malicious code. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for such kernel-level flaws to prevent exploitation by advanced persistent threats.