CVE-2017-2479 in iTunes
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3 is affected. Safari before 10.1 is affected. iCloud before 6.2 on Windows is affected. iTunes before 12.6 on Windows is affected. tvOS before 10.2 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit" component. It allows remote attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy and obtain sensitive information via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2479 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple Apple operating systems and applications. This issue specifically targets the Same Origin Policy implementation within WebKit, which serves as the foundational security mechanism that prevents web pages from accessing resources from different origins without proper authorization. The vulnerability exists in iOS versions prior to 10.3, Safari versions prior to 10.1, iCloud for Windows versions prior to 6.2, iTunes for Windows versions prior to 12.6, and tvOS versions prior to 10.2, demonstrating the widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The flaw allows remote attackers to craft malicious websites that can bypass the fundamental security boundary established by the Same Origin Policy, effectively undermining the browser's security model.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a flaw in how WebKit processes cross-origin requests and resource access controls. When users visit malicious websites, the vulnerability enables attackers to exploit the browser's origin checking mechanisms, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data that should be restricted to specific domains or origins. This bypass capability means that attackers can construct web pages that appear to be from legitimate sources but can actually access or manipulate data from other origins, including cookies, local storage, and other sensitive browser resources. The vulnerability specifically affects WebKit's handling of cross-origin resource sharing and access control, which are critical components of modern web security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally weakens the security boundaries that protect users' data and privacy across Apple's platforms. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform cross-site scripting attacks, access user sessions, steal sensitive information, or potentially execute further malicious activities on compromised systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the affected products include widely used applications like Safari, iTunes, and iCloud, which users interact with regularly and often contain sensitive personal or corporate data. This vulnerability could be exploited in phishing campaigns, drive-by downloads, or other sophisticated attack vectors where attackers craft malicious websites designed to exploit the WebKit flaw and gain unauthorized access to user data.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically the use of web applications for malicious purposes. Organizations and individuals should immediately update their affected Apple products to the latest versions, as Apple released patches for this vulnerability in iOS 10.3, Safari 10.1, iCloud 6.2, iTunes 12.6, and tvOS 10.2. The remediation process requires comprehensive patch management across all affected platforms, including mobile devices, desktop applications, and operating system versions. Additionally, network administrators should monitor for potential exploitation attempts and implement additional security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to provide defense-in-depth against attacks leveraging this vulnerability.