CVE-2017-6975 in Apple
Summary
by MITRE
Wi-Fi in Apple iOS before 10.3.1 does not prevent CVE-2017-6956 stack buffer overflow exploitation via a crafted access point. NOTE: because an operating system could potentially isolate itself from CVE-2017-6956 exploitation without patching Broadcom firmware functions, there is a separate CVE ID for the operating-system behavior.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6975 represents a critical security flaw in Apple iOS versions prior to 10.3.1 that affects the wireless networking stack. This issue specifically targets the Wi-Fi subsystem and creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit a stack buffer overflow condition through crafted wireless access points. The vulnerability demonstrates the complex interplay between operating system components and hardware firmware in mobile security architectures, where the separation of concerns between software and hardware layers becomes crucial for maintaining system integrity. The affected iOS versions were particularly susceptible because they failed to implement adequate protections against maliciously constructed wireless frames that could trigger the buffer overflow condition in the network stack processing code.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a sophisticated attack vector involving crafted wireless access points that send specially constructed frames to vulnerable iOS devices. When the iOS Wi-Fi stack processes these malformed frames, it fails to properly validate the input data, leading to a stack buffer overflow condition that can be leveraged by attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target device. This particular flaw falls under the category of buffer overflow vulnerabilities, which are classified as CWE-121 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system, representing a fundamental security issue where data written to a buffer exceeds the allocated memory space. The attack mechanism operates at the network protocol level, specifically targeting the IEEE 802.11 wireless frame processing within the iOS operating system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access to the device.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6975 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to encompass significant privacy and security risks for iOS users. Attackers could potentially gain unauthorized access to device resources, access sensitive user data, and establish persistent backdoors on compromised devices through this vulnerability. The remote exploitation nature of the flaw means that users could be compromised simply by being in proximity to malicious access points, making it particularly concerning for environments where wireless networks are prevalent such as public spaces, corporate offices, or educational institutions. This vulnerability also highlights the challenges of securing mobile operating systems where hardware and software components must work in harmony, as the issue specifically mentions that while the operating system behavior is separate from the Broadcom firmware functions, both layers require coordinated security updates to fully protect users from exploitation.
The remediation approach for CVE-2017-6975 required Apple to implement comprehensive security patches in iOS 10.3.1 that addressed the buffer overflow condition in the Wi-Fi stack processing code. This update demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and the necessity of coordinated updates across multiple system layers to address complex vulnerabilities. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically categorizing it under the network ingress and execution tactics where attackers leverage wireless protocols to gain initial access to target systems. Organizations should prioritize updating affected iOS devices to version 10.3.1 or later, implement network monitoring to detect suspicious wireless activity, and consider additional security controls such as network access control policies that limit exposure to potentially malicious wireless networks. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and the need for continuous monitoring of emerging threats in mobile environments, particularly given the increasing reliance on wireless connectivity in modern computing environments.