CVE-2017-2466 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-2017-2466 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that impacted multiple Apple operating systems including iOS versions prior to 10.3, Safari versions before 10.1, and tvOS versions before 10.2. This vulnerability resides within the WebKit component which serves as the foundational web rendering technology for Apple's browsers and applications, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit web-based attack vectors. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be triggered through maliciously crafted web content, demonstrating the inherent risks associated with complex web rendering engines that process untrusted content from multiple sources.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution when users visit malicious websites. This type of vulnerability typically stems from improper memory management or input validation issues within the WebKit engine's processing of web content, particularly when handling specific HTML, JavaScript, or multimedia elements. Attackers can craft web pages that exploit buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory manipulation techniques to gain unauthorized control over affected systems. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are common in web rendering engine exploits. The memory corruption aspect creates a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2466 extends beyond simple application crashes, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code remotely without user interaction. This makes it particularly dangerous in the context of modern threat landscapes where attackers increasingly rely on automated exploitation techniques and zero-day vulnerabilities. The affected platforms represent critical attack surfaces since iOS, Safari, and tvOS are widely used across consumer and enterprise environments, making successful exploitation potentially devastating. The vulnerability's presence in WebKit means that any application or service that relies on this rendering engine could be compromised, including Apple's own Safari browser, web views within applications, and even Apple TV's web-based interfaces. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers Scripting through web-based payloads, and T1203, which addresses Exploitation for Client Execution, demonstrating the attack chain from initial web-based delivery to remote code execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2466 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment and system updates to the affected Apple operating systems. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected iOS devices to iOS 10.3 or later, Safari browsers to version 10.1 or later, and tvOS to version 10.2 or later. Additionally, network administrators should implement web filtering solutions and browser security controls to restrict access to potentially malicious websites until patches can be deployed. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual network traffic patterns or browser behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies, as the WebKit engine's exposure to internet-based attacks makes it a persistent target for threat actors. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques and application whitelisting to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, particularly in enterprise environments where the attack surface is more extensive.