CVE-2017-2456 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. A race condition allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2456 represents a critical race condition flaw within the kernel component of several Apple operating systems. This vulnerability affects iOS versions prior to 10.3, macOS versions prior to 10.12.4, tvOS versions prior to 10.2, and watchOS versions prior to 3.2. The race condition occurs during kernel operations where multiple threads or processes attempt to access shared resources simultaneously, creating a window of opportunity for malicious exploitation. The flaw specifically enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries that typically protect the kernel from unauthorized access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which describes a race condition error where concurrent processes or threads access shared resources without proper synchronization mechanisms. This particular implementation flaw allows an attacker to craft a malicious application that can exploit the timing window between resource allocation and deallocation, enabling privilege escalation attacks. The kernel component serves as the core of the operating system, managing system resources and providing essential services, making any vulnerability in this area particularly dangerous. Attackers can leverage this race condition to gain root-level access, potentially compromising the entire system and accessing sensitive data or executing unauthorized operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2456 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a fundamental security weakness that could enable sophisticated attack campaigns. Systems running affected versions become vulnerable to persistent threats where attackers can establish backdoors, monitor user activities, or exfiltrate data without detection. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Apple platforms including mobile devices, desktop computers, and set-top boxes creates a wide attack surface that security professionals must address. Organizations relying on these systems face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to corporate networks, and compromise of user privacy. The race condition aspect means that exploitation is not entirely dependent on specific system states but rather on timing conditions that can be reliably reproduced by determined attackers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2456 primarily focus on immediate system updates to the patched versions of affected operating systems. Apple released security updates that addressed the race condition by implementing proper synchronization mechanisms and ensuring atomic operations within the kernel. Organizations should prioritize patch management procedures to update all affected devices, particularly those handling sensitive information. Network monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of kernel-level security and proper concurrency control mechanisms, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1055 for privilege escalation through kernel exploits. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting, monitoring for suspicious kernel activity, and conducting regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation vectors. System administrators should also consider network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact if a device becomes compromised.