CVE-2017-2464 in tvOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3 is affected. Safari before 10.1 is affected. tvOS before 10.2 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2464 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple Apple operating systems including iOS versions prior to 10.3, Safari versions prior to 10.1, and tvOS versions prior to 10.2. This vulnerability resides in the core web browsing component that processes and renders web content, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise Apple devices through malicious websites. The flaw manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that occurs when WebKit processes specially crafted web content, allowing attackers to manipulate memory structures in ways that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system crashes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it within CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These classifications indicate that the flaw involves improper bounds checking during memory operations, where WebKit fails to properly validate input data when parsing web content. Attackers can exploit this by hosting malicious web pages that trigger the vulnerable code path within WebKit's JavaScript engine or rendering components, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that users need not interact with malicious content directly, as simply visiting a compromised website can trigger the exploit.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2464 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it enables full remote code execution capabilities that align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter usage. This means that an attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary commands on the target device with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects not just individual web browsing sessions but represents a fundamental security flaw in Apple's web platform that could be leveraged for persistent surveillance, data exfiltration, or as a stepping stone for further attacks within a network. The widespread adoption of Apple devices makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as it affects billions of users across multiple device categories.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2464 primarily focus on immediate system updates and patches provided by Apple through their security updates. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected Apple devices receive the necessary security updates, particularly those addressing WebKit vulnerabilities. Network administrators should consider implementing web filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains and employ browser hardening techniques that disable potentially dangerous JavaScript features. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping their operating systems and applications updated. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates how rendering engine flaws can provide attackers with powerful exploitation capabilities that bypass traditional network security controls.