CVE-2017-2498 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3.2 is affected. The issue involves the "Security" component. It allows attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via an untrusted certificate.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2498 represents a significant security flaw within Apple's iOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.3.2. This issue resides within the Security component of the iOS framework and demonstrates a critical weakness in the certificate validation mechanism that governs trust relationships between devices and network services. The flaw enables malicious actors to circumvent legitimate access controls by exploiting a vulnerability in how the system processes and validates digital certificates, potentially allowing unauthorized access to protected resources and services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper certificate validation procedures within the iOS security framework. When the system encounters an untrusted certificate, it fails to properly enforce the established trust policies that should prevent such certificates from being accepted for authentication purposes. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to present malicious certificates that would normally be rejected by the system's security protocols. The vulnerability specifically affects the certificate chain validation process, where the system does not adequately verify the authenticity and trustworthiness of certificates presented during secure communication sessions. This flaw aligns with CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation and certificate trust issues in security systems. The attack vector leverages the fact that iOS does not sufficiently validate certificate attributes and trust anchors, allowing attackers to craft certificates that appear legitimate to the system while actually being malicious.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass broader security implications for iOS devices and their connected ecosystems. Attackers could exploit this weakness to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, intercept encrypted communications, and potentially gain elevated privileges on affected devices. The vulnerability particularly threatens enterprise environments where iOS devices handle sensitive corporate data and communications, as it undermines the fundamental security model that protects against unauthorized access to internal networks and services. Organizations relying on iOS devices for business operations face significant risks including data breaches, intellectual property theft, and compliance violations. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it affects the core security infrastructure of the operating system, making it a critical concern for both individual users and enterprise security teams. This weakness directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1556.001 which describes credential harvesting through the exploitation of certificate validation flaws.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2498 require immediate system updates to iOS version 10.3.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the certificate validation weakness. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management policies to ensure all iOS devices receive the security updates promptly. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any devices that may have been compromised through exploitation of this vulnerability. Network monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual certificate validation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The recommended approach includes implementing certificate pinning mechanisms where appropriate, as well as maintaining strict oversight of certificate issuance and validation processes within enterprise environments. Security administrators should also consider deploying additional layers of protection such as network segmentation and enhanced intrusion detection systems to reduce the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and continuous monitoring of certificate trust relationships will help maintain defense in depth against similar vulnerabilities that may arise in the future.