CVE-2017-2361 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.3 is affected. The issue involves the "Help Viewer" component, which allows XSS attacks via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2361 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within Apple's Help Viewer component affecting macOS versions prior to 10.12.3. This security weakness resides in the manner in which the Help Viewer processes and renders web content, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary script code within the context of a user's browser session. The vulnerability specifically exploits the component's insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms when handling web content delivered through help documents or embedded web pages.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a user visits a maliciously crafted website that contains specially crafted javascript code designed to target the Help Viewer component. The flaw stems from the component's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it within the help viewer interface. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute with the privileges of the Help Viewer application, potentially enabling unauthorized access to system resources or user data. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses that allow attackers to inject client-side scripts into web applications. The attack vector specifically aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211 which involves exploiting vulnerabilities in software to execute malicious code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks including credential theft, session hijacking, or the delivery of additional malware payloads. Users who regularly access help documentation or web-based help systems within macOS environments become particularly vulnerable, as the attack requires only a single visit to a malicious site to potentially compromise the system. The vulnerability affects the broader macOS ecosystem by undermining the security boundaries established by the operating system's application sandboxing mechanisms, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or access sensitive user information.
Organizations and individuals should immediately update to macOS 10.12.3 or later versions to remediate this vulnerability, as Apple released security updates specifically addressing the Help Viewer XSS flaw. System administrators should also implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls or content filtering solutions to prevent access to known malicious domains until full patching is completed. Additional mitigations include educating users about the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and implementing browser security policies that restrict the execution of potentially malicious content within help viewer components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in preventing XSS attacks, reinforcing industry best practices established by standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines for secure software development.