CVE-2017-2368 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.2.1 is affected. The issue involves the "Contacts" component. It allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted contact card.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2368 represents a significant security flaw within Apple's iOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.2.1. This issue resides within the Contacts component of the mobile operating system, which serves as a fundamental application for managing personal and professional contact information. The flaw manifests as a denial of service condition that can be triggered remotely, making it particularly concerning for mobile device security. The vulnerability specifically targets the contact card processing functionality, which is utilized when displaying, editing, or synchronizing contact information within the device's contact management system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the Contacts application's parsing mechanism for contact card data. When a maliciously crafted contact card is received through various communication channels such as email, messaging applications, or contact synchronization protocols, the iOS Contacts component fails to properly handle the malformed data structure. This processing failure results in an application crash that terminates the Contacts application entirely, effectively rendering the contact management functionality unavailable until the user restarts the application or device. The flaw operates at the application layer and does not require any privileged access or authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through simple contact data exchange.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial disruption for users who rely on their mobile devices for contact management and communication. The denial of service condition affects not only the immediate functionality of the Contacts application but can also potentially impact other applications that depend on contact data synchronization. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to repeatedly crash the Contacts application, causing persistent disruption to users' ability to access their contact information, make calls, send messages, or utilize any feature that depends on contact data. The remote exploitation capability means that users may be compromised without their knowledge or consent, as the malicious contact card can be delivered through various legitimate communication channels, making it difficult to distinguish between benign and malicious content.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services. The flaw demonstrates a classic example of how input validation failures can lead to application instability and denial of service conditions. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability affects a core system component that is integral to mobile device functionality, making it a critical concern for enterprise security policies and mobile device management strategies. The impact extends beyond individual users to potentially affect organizational communication systems where mobile device integration is critical for business operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2368 primarily involve upgrading to iOS version 10.2.1 or later, which includes patches that address the input validation issues within the Contacts component. Organizations should implement comprehensive mobile device management policies that ensure timely deployment of security updates across all enrolled devices. Network administrators should consider implementing content filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious contact data formats, though this approach presents challenges given the legitimate variability in contact card formats. Additionally, users should be educated about the potential risks of accepting contact information from untrusted sources and should be encouraged to maintain regular device updates. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of robust input validation in mobile applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can lead to significant operational disruptions in enterprise and consumer environments.