CVE-2017-2513 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3.2 is affected. macOS before 10.12.5 is affected. tvOS before 10.2.1 is affected. watchOS before 3.2.2 is affected. The issue involves the "SQLite" component. A use-after-free vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted SQL statement.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2513 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Apple's SQLite database implementation across multiple operating systems. This security weakness affects iOS versions prior to 10.3.2, macOS versions before 10.12.5, tvOS versions before 10.2.1, and watchOS versions before 3.2.2. The flaw specifically resides in how SQLite handles memory management during the processing of crafted SQL statements, creating a scenario where freed memory locations can be accessed and manipulated by malicious actors. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-416, which describes use-after-free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed, a pattern that frequently leads to exploitable conditions in software systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers submit carefully constructed SQL statements that trigger the use-after-free condition within SQLite's memory management routines. When the database engine processes these malformed queries, it can cause memory to be freed while still being referenced, leading to unpredictable behavior that attackers can leverage to execute arbitrary code or induce application crashes. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1499.004 for Endpoint Denial of Service, as it enables both remote code execution and system stability compromise. The memory corruption resulting from this flaw can be particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to potentially overwrite critical memory locations with malicious payloads, bypassing standard security protections.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2513 extends beyond individual device compromise to affect entire Apple ecosystem deployments where SQLite is utilized for database operations. Applications relying on SQLite for data storage, including those handling sensitive user information, become vulnerable to remote exploitation, potentially enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to personal data, execute malicious commands, or disrupt service availability. The widespread adoption of SQLite across Apple's software stack means that this vulnerability could be exploited across multiple attack vectors, including web applications, mobile apps, and system-level services. Organizations using affected Apple devices must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability, particularly in environments where device security is paramount and where attackers might leverage the remote execution capability to establish persistent access or conduct data exfiltration operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2513 require immediate deployment of Apple's security updates, specifically iOS 10.3.2, macOS 10.12.5, tvOS 10.2.1, and watchOS 3.2.2, which contain the necessary patches to address the use-after-free condition in SQLite. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts through malformed SQL queries and consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious database access patterns. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any custom applications or services that might be utilizing SQLite and ensure they are updated to versions that address this vulnerability. The patching process should be prioritized across all affected Apple platforms, with particular attention to enterprise environments where the vulnerability could be exploited to compromise sensitive corporate data or establish unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components.