CVE-2017-2378 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3 is affected. Safari before 10.1 is affected. The issue involves bookmark creation in the "WebKit" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or spoof a bookmark by leveraging mishandling of links during drag-and-drop actions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2378 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple iOS and Safari versions prior to their respective security updates. This issue specifically targets the bookmark creation functionality within the WebKit component, creating a dangerous vector for remote code execution and malicious spoofing operations. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of hyperlink data during drag-and-drop interactions, which creates an exploitable condition that adversaries can leverage to gain unauthorized system access or manipulate user bookmarks. The affected versions include iOS before 10.3 and Safari before 10.1, indicating a broad impact across Apple's mobile and desktop browser ecosystem.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the realm of input validation and data handling errors, specifically categorized under CWE-170 which addresses improper handling of potentially dangerous data. The flaw manifests when WebKit processes drag-and-drop operations involving bookmark creation, where the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the link data being processed. This inadequate validation allows attackers to craft malicious URLs or bookmark data that, when processed through the drag-and-drop mechanism, can trigger unintended code execution within the browser environment. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway demonstrates a classic example of how seemingly benign user interface interactions can become attack vectors when proper input sanitization is absent.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users who engage with web content that may contain maliciously crafted bookmarks or links. The ability to execute arbitrary code remotely means that attackers could potentially install malware, access sensitive user data, or escalate privileges on affected systems. The spoofing capability adds another dimension of danger as users might be misled into believing they are interacting with legitimate bookmarks while actually encountering malicious content. This vulnerability particularly threatens users who frequently interact with web content through drag-and-drop operations or who maintain bookmarks in their browser environments. The impact extends beyond individual users to enterprise environments where Apple devices are prevalent, potentially creating widespread security exposure across organizations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2378 focus primarily on immediate system updates to the affected Apple products, specifically upgrading to iOS 10.3 or later and Safari 10.1 or later where the vulnerability has been patched. Security administrators should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all affected Apple devices receive timely updates. Network monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect suspicious drag-and-drop activities or bookmark creation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Users should be educated about the risks of interacting with untrusted web content and the importance of keeping their operating systems and browsers updated. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing browser security policies that restrict drag-and-drop functionality in high-risk environments and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and data sanitization in browser components, reinforcing the need for continuous security testing of user interface elements that handle external data inputs.