CVE-2017-2428 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 nghttp2 before 1.17.0 in the "HTTPProtocol" component. It allows remote HTTP/2 servers to have an unspecified impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2428 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple Apple operating systems including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This issue stems from the nghttp2 library version 1.17.0 or earlier, specifically within the HTTPProtocol component of Apple's software stack. The vulnerability manifests when remote HTTP/2 servers interact with affected Apple devices, creating potential attack vectors that could compromise system integrity and user data confidentiality. The affected versions encompass iOS prior to 10.3, macOS prior to 10.12.4, tvOS prior to 10.2, and watchOS prior to 3.2, indicating a broad impact across Apple's ecosystem.
The technical nature of this vulnerability resides in the nghttp2 library's handling of HTTP/2 protocol communications, where the library fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming data from remote servers. This allows malicious HTTP/2 servers to potentially exploit unspecified vectors that could lead to arbitrary code execution, data corruption, or information disclosure. The vulnerability's classification under CWE categories related to protocol handling and input validation reflects its fundamental nature as a protocol implementation flaw that affects how the system processes network communications. The HTTP/2 protocol's complexity and the nghttp2 library's role in managing these communications create multiple potential entry points for attackers to manipulate system behavior.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations and individual users who rely on Apple devices for sensitive operations. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to potentially enabling full system compromise through remote code execution capabilities. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to affected devices, monitor network communications, or exfiltrate confidential information. The widespread adoption of affected Apple operating systems across enterprise environments, consumer devices, and mobile platforms amplifies the potential scope of exploitation. Organizations using Apple products in mission-critical applications face heightened risk of service disruption and data breaches, particularly in environments where network security is paramount.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Apple operating systems to versions containing nghttp2 library updates. System administrators must conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all devices running vulnerable versions and implement mandatory update policies. Network monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect anomalous HTTP/2 traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit exposure of critical systems to untrusted HTTP/2 servers. The vulnerability's nature suggests that organizations should review their HTTP/2 server configurations and implement additional security controls such as TLS certificate validation and traffic filtering. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure continued protection against similar protocol-based vulnerabilities.