CVE-2017-2484 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3 is affected. The issue involves the "Phone" component. It allows attackers to trigger telephone calls to arbitrary numbers via a third-party app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2484 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's iOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.3. This issue resides within the Phone component of the mobile operating system, specifically exposing a dangerous privilege escalation mechanism that allows malicious third-party applications to initiate telephone calls without user consent or awareness. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in the operating system's permission model and user interface security controls that should normally prevent unauthorized access to telephony functions.
This security weakness stems from insufficient input validation and authorization checks within the Phone application's API interfaces. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious applications that leverage the underlying system calls to programmatically trigger telephone connections to arbitrary phone numbers. The flaw operates at the system level rather than being confined to a specific application boundary, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses normal user interaction requirements and system security mechanisms. The vulnerability essentially allows for unauthorized telephony function execution through third-party applications that should not have such privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized calling, creating significant risks for user privacy, financial security, and potential abuse scenarios. Malicious actors could use this flaw to initiate premium rate calls, trigger emergency services abuse, or create social engineering opportunities by making automated calls to specific numbers. The vulnerability could be exploited in various attack vectors including malicious app downloads from unofficial app stores, compromised enterprise applications, or through social engineering campaigns that trick users into installing harmful applications. This creates a substantial risk for both individual users and enterprise environments where mobile security is paramount.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) within the MITRE ATT&CK framework. The issue represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks where a third-party application gains elevated privileges through improper system API exposure. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including mandatory iOS updates to version 10.3 or later, deployment of mobile device management solutions to restrict application installation sources, and user education regarding the dangers of installing applications from untrusted sources. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual telephony activity patterns that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability, while system administrators should review application permissions and implement strict application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized access to telephony functions.