CVE-2017-2472 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 (use-after-free) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2472 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the kernel component of several Apple operating systems including 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. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating potential exploitation opportunities for malicious actors. The kernel component serves as the core of the operating system, managing system resources and providing essential services that applications depend upon for proper operation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the kernel's handling of specific data structures. Attackers can craft malicious applications that trigger a use-after-free condition when the kernel processes certain operations, leading to a situation where freed memory locations are still being referenced by the system. This memory corruption can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively allowing attackers to gain complete control over the affected device. The exploitability of this flaw means that a seemingly benign application could be weaponized to compromise the entire operating system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may unknowingly install malicious software.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2472 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can result in either arbitrary code execution in a privileged context or denial of service conditions that render devices unusable. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability provides a pathway to bypass security controls that typically protect against unauthorized system access, potentially enabling persistent surveillance, data theft, or complete system compromise. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the flaw exists in widely deployed operating systems across multiple device types including smartphones, tablets, desktop computers, and smart TVs. Organizations and individuals using affected versions of these operating systems face significant risk of exploitation, as the vulnerability can be triggered through standard application installation processes without requiring special user interaction beyond installing the malicious payload.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2472 primarily focus on immediate system updates to the patched versions of the affected operating systems. Apple released security updates for iOS 10.3, macOS 10.12.4, tvOS 10.2, and watchOS 3.2 that address this memory management flaw through proper kernel memory handling procedures. System administrators should prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected devices in their environments, particularly in enterprise settings where multiple devices may be at risk. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, monitoring for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, and maintaining comprehensive backup strategies to recover from potential compromise. From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of kernel-level security controls and proper memory management practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Local Port/Service Discovery' and related privilege escalation methods that can be facilitated through such kernel flaws. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain awareness of similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other system components.