CVE-2017-2440 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 "Kernel" component. It allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (integer overflow) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2440 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the kernel component of multiple Apple operating systems. This security weakness affects iOS versions prior to 10.3, macOS versions before 10.12.4, tvOS versions before 10.2, and watchOS versions before 3.2. The integer overflow condition occurs when a malicious application processes data that exceeds the maximum value an integer can represent, leading to unpredictable behavior within the kernel space. Such vulnerabilities in kernel components are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code with system-level access. The flaw demonstrates a classic security weakness that falls under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions that can result in buffer overflows or other memory corruption issues.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and denial of service conditions. Attackers can craft malicious applications that exploit the integer overflow to manipulate kernel data structures, potentially allowing them to execute code with the highest system privileges. This type of exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Local Privilege Escalation' through kernel vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's presence in the kernel component means that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, as the attacker would gain access to all system resources and capabilities typically restricted to privileged processes. The integer overflow could also lead to memory corruption that might cause system crashes or unpredictable behavior, creating a denial of service condition that affects normal system operation and user functionality.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2440 primarily focus on immediate system updates and patches provided by Apple to address the specific kernel vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple devices to their respective patched versions, ensuring that iOS 10.3, macOS 10.12.4, tvOS 10.2, and watchOS 3.2 or later versions are deployed across all endpoints. Security administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring to detect any suspicious application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on applications that might attempt to manipulate kernel-level data structures. The vulnerability's nature as a kernel-level integer overflow also necessitates enhanced application sandboxing measures and strict application vetting processes. Additionally, implementing network-based detection mechanisms that monitor for known exploit signatures and anomalous system behavior patterns can help identify potential exploitation attempts before they result in successful compromise. This vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date system patches and demonstrates how kernel-level flaws can provide attackers with the most privileged execution contexts available within modern operating systems.