CVE-2017-2405 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 the "WebKit Web Inspector" 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 • 11/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2405 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's WebKit Web Inspector component that affected multiple iOS and Safari versions prior to their respective security updates. This issue resides in the core web rendering engine that powers Safari and iOS web browsing capabilities, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through standard web navigation without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The vulnerability specifically impacts iOS versions before 10.3 and Safari versions before 10.1, indicating that Apple's security team had already identified and addressed this weakness in their subsequent releases.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the WebKit Web Inspector functionality, which creates conditions for memory corruption that can be exploited by remote attackers. When a user visits a specially crafted malicious website, the Web Inspector component processes the malformed content in a manner that leads to memory corruption, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system or cause application crashes that result in denial of service conditions. This memory corruption vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 CWE category of "Stack-based Buffer Overflow" and aligns with ATT&CK techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation through web-based attacks. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign debugging tools can become weaponized when proper input validation and memory management controls are absent.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2405 extends far beyond simple browser crashes, as it provides attackers with a pathway to execute arbitrary code on iOS devices without user interaction or elevated privileges. This capability enables threat actors to potentially install malware, steal sensitive data, monitor user activities, or take complete control of affected devices. The vulnerability's remote exploitation nature means that users could be compromised simply by visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently browse the internet and may encounter malicious content through various vectors including phishing campaigns, compromised websites, or drive-by downloads. The memory corruption aspect also creates instability that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks, including those targeting the device's operating system kernel or other critical components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2405 primarily involve immediate deployment of Apple's security updates, specifically iOS 10.3 and Safari 10.1, which contain patches addressing the memory management issues within the WebKit Web Inspector component. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected Apple devices receive updates promptly, as the vulnerability affects widely used consumer and enterprise devices. Network administrators should consider implementing web filtering solutions and monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any devices that may have been compromised. Additionally, user education regarding safe browsing practices and the importance of keeping software updated remains crucial, as this vulnerability demonstrates how outdated software can expose users to remote code execution risks that could lead to complete system compromise. The remediation process should also include monitoring for potential exploitation attempts and maintaining updated threat intelligence to detect similar vulnerabilities that may emerge in the future.