CVE-2017-2416 in tvOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3 is affected. macOS before 10.12.4 is affected. tvOS before 10.2 is affected. watchOS before 3.2 is affected. The issue involves the "ImageIO" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted image file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2416 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's ImageIO framework that affects multiple operating systems including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This vulnerability resides in the image processing component responsible for handling various image formats and is particularly concerning due to its potential for remote code execution. The flaw manifests when the ImageIO framework processes specially crafted image files that contain malformed data structures designed to trigger memory corruption during the decoding process. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds writes, both of which are common vectors for arbitrary code execution in image processing libraries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the way ImageIO handles image metadata and pixel data structures during the decoding process. When an attacker crafts a malicious image file with carefully constructed headers and data sequences, the framework's parsing logic fails to properly validate input boundaries, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can deliver malicious image files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites without requiring user interaction beyond viewing the image. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation for execution through malicious file handling, and demonstrates how image processing components can serve as attack surfaces for privilege escalation and system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2416 extends beyond simple application crashes, as the memory corruption can be reliably exploited to gain remote code execution capabilities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install malicious software, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected devices. The widespread adoption of Apple's operating systems means that this vulnerability affects millions of devices, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise and consumer environments. The vulnerability affects all versions prior to the specified patches, creating a significant window of exposure for users who have not updated their systems. Organizations must consider the implications of this vulnerability in their security posture, particularly in environments where users may inadvertently encounter malicious image files through legitimate business processes or social engineering attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2416 primarily involve immediate deployment of Apple's security updates, which include patches to the ImageIO framework that properly validate image file structures and prevent memory corruption. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected Apple devices receive updates promptly. Additional protective measures include deploying network filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious image file downloads, implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict image processing applications, and educating users about the dangers of opening image files from untrusted sources. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts and maintain regular security assessments to identify other potential vulnerabilities in their Apple device fleets. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping image processing components up to date, as these libraries often handle untrusted input from various sources and represent common attack vectors for remote code execution.