CVE-2017-2477 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.4 is affected. The issue involves the "libxslt" component. It allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2477 resides within Apple's macOS operating system, specifically affecting versions prior to 10.12.4. This weakness manifests in the libxslt component, which serves as a library for processing xml documents using xslt transformations. The libxslt library forms part of the broader xml processing ecosystem that Apple incorporates into its operating system, making it a critical component for various system functions and applications that rely on xml data manipulation. The vulnerability represents a significant security concern as it affects the core xml processing capabilities of macOS, potentially compromising system stability and security.
The technical flaw within libxslt involves memory corruption issues that can be triggered by maliciously crafted xml documents or xslt transformations. This memory corruption vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the library's processing routines. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific xml or xslt content that, when processed by the vulnerable libxslt library, causes memory corruption patterns that may lead to system crashes or potentially more severe consequences. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service as it may enable remote code execution or other unspecified security implications, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where xml processing is common.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2477 is substantial across multiple attack vectors and threat scenarios. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to cause denial of service conditions that disrupt system availability, potentially affecting critical business operations. The memory corruption aspect creates instability that could be exploited to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, representing a severe threat to system integrity. Given that libxslt is used across various applications and system components within macOS, the attack surface is broad and includes web browsers, document processors, and system utilities that process xml content. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where xml processing is prevalent, making it a target for advanced persistent threats and cyberattacks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses buffer overflow conditions in heap-based memory. These classifications reflect the memory corruption nature of the flaw and its potential to be exploited through buffer overflow techniques. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple tactics including privilege escalation through code execution, and defense evasion by potentially corrupting system memory to avoid detection. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to macOS 10.12.4 or later, which contains the patched version of libxslt. Additionally, network segmentation, application whitelisting, and monitoring for unusual xml processing activities should be implemented to reduce the risk of exploitation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems that may still be running vulnerable versions of the operating system, as the patch addresses the underlying memory corruption mechanisms that make such exploitation possible.