CVE-2017-2482 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. A buffer overflow allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2482 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the kernel component of multiple Apple operating systems including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This issue affects versions prior to the specified security updates, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code. The kernel serves as the core component of any operating system, managing system resources and providing essential services that applications depend upon for secure operation. When a buffer overflow occurs in this critical component, it fundamentally compromises the security model of the entire platform.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within kernel memory management functions that handle data input from user-space applications. Attackers can craft malicious applications that deliberately trigger buffer overflow conditions when the kernel processes specially designed input data structures. This flaw specifically allows for privilege escalation from user-level execution context to kernel-level privileges, enabling attackers to bypass standard security mechanisms and execute code with the highest system permissions. The buffer overflow occurs during kernel processing of application-provided data, where insufficient validation permits data to overflow allocated memory buffers and overwrite adjacent memory regions including critical control structures and function pointers.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2482 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities as it provides attackers with complete system compromise potential. Once exploited, the vulnerability enables persistent access to affected devices, allowing for data theft, surveillance, and further lateral movement within network environments. The affected platforms represent widely deployed consumer and enterprise devices including smartphones, tablets, desktop computers, and smart TVs, creating extensive exposure across multiple threat vectors. This vulnerability directly violates the fundamental security principle of privilege separation and undermines the integrity of the operating system's security model, as documented in CWE-121 which describes the classic buffer overflow condition.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of Apple's security updates including iOS 10.3, macOS 10.12.4, tvOS 10.2, and watchOS 3.2, which contain patches addressing the kernel buffer overflow condition. System administrators should prioritize patch management across all affected Apple platforms and implement monitoring for suspicious application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and represents a classic example of how kernel-level flaws can be leveraged to achieve complete system compromise. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability specifically targets the kernel component where traditional user-space security controls may be bypassed.