CVE-2017-2356 in iTunes
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.2.1 is affected. Safari before 10.0.3 is affected. iCloud before 6.1.1 is affected. iTunes before 12.5.5 is affected. tvOS before 10.1.1 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 • 11/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2356 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple Apple operating systems and applications. This vulnerability resides in the core web browsing component that powers Safari, iCloud, iTunes, and tvOS interfaces, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through standard web browsing activities. The affected versions include iOS prior to 10.2.1, Safari prior to 10.0.3, iCloud prior to 6.1.1, iTunes prior to 12.5.5, and tvOS prior to 10.1.1, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be triggered when users visit maliciously crafted websites, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems or cause application crashes that lead to denial of service conditions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses classified under CWE-122, which deals with buffer overflow conditions in memory management. Attackers could leverage this flaw by hosting malicious content on compromised websites or through phishing campaigns that direct users to specifically crafted web pages. The exploitation mechanism typically involves manipulating memory structures within the WebKit engine to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially leading to code execution with the privileges of the affected application. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the browser level, where users frequently interact with untrusted content, creating numerous potential attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2356 extends beyond simple application crashes, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code remotely on vulnerable systems. This remote code execution capability places affected organizations and individuals at significant risk, as attackers could potentially install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Apple platforms means that organizations using Apple devices for business operations face a unified attack surface that requires coordinated patching efforts. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping web browsers and related components updated, as the attack surface expands with each new feature added to web rendering engines.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate deployment of Apple's security patches and updates for all affected versions of iOS, Safari, iCloud, iTunes, and tvOS. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect attempts to access known malicious domains and consider implementing web filtering solutions to block access to suspicious websites. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework as a remote code execution technique highlights the need for comprehensive endpoint protection measures including regular security assessments and user education about safe browsing practices. Additionally, system administrators should ensure that automatic update mechanisms are enabled for Apple products to minimize exposure windows and reduce the risk of exploitation through this memory corruption flaw.