CVE-2017-2442 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 JavaScript Bindings" component. It allows remote attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy and obtain sensitive information via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2442 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's WebKit JavaScript bindings component that affected multiple iOS and Safari versions prior to their respective security updates. This weakness resides in the core web rendering engine that powers Apple's mobile and desktop browsers, specifically impacting iOS versions before 10.3 and Safari versions before 10.1. The vulnerability stems from insufficient implementation of the Same Origin Policy, which is a fundamental security mechanism designed to prevent unauthorized access to resources between different origins. The flaw enables malicious actors to construct specially crafted web pages that can bypass these critical security boundaries, allowing them to access sensitive information that should otherwise be restricted to authorized domains.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it within the scope of CWE-284, which deals with improper access control mechanisms, and more specifically aligns with CWE-345, which addresses insufficient verification of data authenticity. The WebKit JavaScript bindings component serves as the bridge between JavaScript and native code within Apple's browser environment, creating a potential attack surface where malicious JavaScript code could exploit improper privilege separation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by hosting malicious content on compromised websites that utilize JavaScript to make cross-origin requests or access data that should be restricted by the Same Origin Policy. The exploitation process typically involves crafting web pages that manipulate the JavaScript bindings to access resources from different origins, potentially obtaining sensitive user data, session information, or other restricted content that should remain protected by browser security models.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2442 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally undermines the security model that protects users from cross-site attacks. This vulnerability enables attackers to perform what is classified as a cross-site scripting attack under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007, specifically targeting the JavaScript execution environment. Users of affected Apple products become vulnerable to various attack vectors including credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration from other websites they may be visiting. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WebKit powers not only Safari but also numerous other Apple applications and services that rely on the same underlying technology, potentially creating cascading security implications across the Apple ecosystem.
Organizations and users affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to the patched versions of iOS 10.3 and Safari 10.1, which contain the necessary security patches to address the improper access control issue. The mitigation approach aligns with the NIST cybersecurity framework's configuration management practices and should be implemented as part of comprehensive vulnerability management programs. Security administrators should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect suspicious cross-origin requests and establish baseline security configurations that limit the attack surface. Additionally, user education regarding the importance of avoiding untrusted websites and maintaining updated software versions remains critical in defending against this class of vulnerability, as the exploitation often relies on social engineering elements to deliver malicious payloads to unsuspecting users.