CVE-2017-6991 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. The issue involves the "SQLite" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6991 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's SQLite database component that affected multiple operating systems including iOS versions prior to 10.3.2 and macOS versions prior to 10.12.5. This vulnerability resides within the core database engine that powers numerous Apple applications and services, making it a significant threat vector for attackers seeking to compromise affected systems. The flaw manifests through a memory corruption issue that can be triggered when processing specially crafted web content, demonstrating how database vulnerabilities can extend beyond traditional boundaries into web-based attack surfaces. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The attack scenario involves remote exploitation through malicious websites, where the SQLite component processes malformed data structures that cause buffer overflows or memory corruption, ultimately leading to application crashes or complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the way SQLite handles certain data parsing operations within web contexts, particularly when processing structured data from web pages. Attackers can craft malicious websites that contain specially formatted database content which, when processed by the affected SQLite implementation, triggers memory corruption conditions. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on compromised systems. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing of malformed database records that exceed expected buffer boundaries, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations with malicious payloads. The vulnerability's remote nature means that no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website is required for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in mobile and web environments where users frequently browse untrusted content. This type of vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks when database engines process untrusted input without proper bounds checking and validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6991 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise and persistent access for attackers. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can result in arbitrary code execution that allows threat actors to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish backdoors on affected devices. The denial of service aspect of this vulnerability can also be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks, where attackers might use the instability to create conditions favorable for subsequent exploitation attempts. Organizations and individuals using affected Apple products face significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability affects core operating system components that are integral to device functionality. The widespread use of SQLite across Apple's ecosystem means that numerous applications and services could be compromised, potentially affecting everything from personal data storage to enterprise information systems. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of keeping operating systems and applications updated, as the patch for this issue was included in the respective security updates for iOS 10.3.2 and macOS 10.12.5, demonstrating how timely patch management serves as a crucial defense mechanism against such exploits.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6991 focus primarily on immediate system updates and proactive security measures. Organizations should prioritize deployment of the affected system patches to prevent exploitation, as these updates contain the necessary fixes to address the memory corruption issues in the SQLite implementation. Network administrators should implement web filtering solutions and browser security controls to reduce exposure to malicious websites that might attempt to exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability's characteristics make it particularly susceptible to automated exploitation, so organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to access known malicious web content. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of maintaining current software versions. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual memory access patterns or application crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also involve comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected systems or applications that might rely on vulnerable SQLite implementations, ensuring that the complete attack surface is protected against similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.