CVE-2017-2430 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 "Audio" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted audio file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2022
This vulnerability resides within Apple's audio processing stack affecting multiple operating systems including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. The flaw manifests in the audio component where specifically crafted audio files can trigger memory corruption leading to arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow scenario that occurs during audio file parsing operations, particularly when handling malformed or specially constructed audio data. Security researchers identified this issue as a critical memory corruption vulnerability that could be exploited remotely through audio files delivered via various attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the audio processing pipeline. When the affected systems attempt to parse maliciously crafted audio files, the parsing routine fails to properly validate buffer boundaries and memory allocation parameters. This allows attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the system level where audio processing components typically run with elevated privileges, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or gain persistent access to affected devices.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks across Apple's ecosystem as it affects multiple device types and operating system versions. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers could deliver malicious audio files through various channels including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious applications. The potential for both arbitrary code execution and denial of service makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where device management and security controls may be less stringent. Organizations using affected Apple devices face risks of data breaches, system compromise, and service disruption.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple file execution to include various audio processing scenarios such as streaming media, podcast playback, or audio file transfers. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through compromised websites, malicious applications, or even through file sharing mechanisms. The exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond opening or playing the malicious audio file, making it particularly dangerous in social engineering campaigns. This vulnerability aligns with attack patterns described in the attack framework where memory corruption issues are commonly exploited for privilege escalation and persistent access. Organizations should implement immediate patch management strategies and consider network-based protections to mitigate this risk.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate deployment of Apple's security updates including iOS 10.3, macOS 10.12.4, tvOS 10.2, and watchOS 3.2. Network administrators should consider implementing audio file filtering mechanisms and monitoring for suspicious audio file transfers. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper memory management in multimedia processing components, aligning with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-121 for heap-based buffer overflows. Organizations should also implement comprehensive endpoint protection measures and user education to reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for this specific vulnerability across all affected Apple platforms to ensure complete remediation.