CVE-2017-2403 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.4 is affected. The issue involves the "Printing" component. A format-string vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted ipp: or ipps: URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2403 represents a critical format-string flaw within Apple's printing subsystem affecting macOS versions prior to 10.12.4. This security weakness resides in the handling of Internet Printing Protocol urls which are used to manage print jobs over network connections. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate the format string processing logic when parsing specially crafted ipp: or ipps: URLs, creating a pathway for arbitrary code execution on affected systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the classic characteristics of a format string vulnerability where improper input validation allows attackers to inject malicious format specifiers that can lead to memory corruption and code execution. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in network-facing components as it can be exploited without user interaction, making it a prime target for automated attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input within the printing component's URL parsing mechanism. When the system processes ipp: or ipps: URLs, it fails to properly sanitize the format string components, allowing attackers to inject malicious format specifiers that can be interpreted by the printf family of functions. This misconfiguration creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents, potentially leading to stack corruption, heap overflow conditions, or direct code execution. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-134 which specifically addresses format string vulnerabilities where format strings are constructed from user-controlled data without proper validation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that contain format specifiers designed to read from or write to memory locations, effectively bypassing standard security protections.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2403 extends beyond simple code execution as it represents a significant threat vector for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to macOS systems. Remote exploitation capabilities make this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network printers are commonly accessible and may be configured to automatically process print jobs from network sources. The vulnerability can be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks, allowing attackers to gain elevated system privileges and potentially compromise entire networks. This weakness also provides a pathway for attackers to establish persistent backdoors or deploy additional malware components through the print subsystem. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability undermines the integrity of Apple's security model and demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network-facing components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2403 should prioritize immediate system updates to macOS 10.12.4 or later versions where Apple has implemented proper input validation controls for the printing subsystem. Network administrators should implement strict firewall rules to limit access to print services and disable unnecessary network printing capabilities where possible. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive network monitoring to detect suspicious URL patterns or unusual print job behaviors that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict the execution of unauthorized code through print-related processes. From a defensive standpoint, this vulnerability underscores the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and conducting thorough input validation testing, particularly for components that process network data. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the technique of "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and "Command and Control" where attackers can use such vulnerabilities to establish persistent access and maintain control over compromised systems.