CVE-2017-7007 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3.3 is affected. The issue involves the "EventKitUI" component. It allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource consumption and application crash).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7007 resides within Apple's iOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.3.3, specifically within the EventKitUI component. This component is responsible for providing user interface elements for managing calendar events and appointments within iOS applications. The flaw represents a classic resource exhaustion vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt normal system operations through deliberate consumption of system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper input validation within the EventKitUI framework when processing malformed calendar event data. Attackers can craft specially formatted calendar invitations or event data that, when processed by the affected iOS versions, causes the system to consume excessive memory and processing resources. The vulnerability manifests as a denial of service condition where legitimate applications and system processes become unresponsive due to resource exhaustion, ultimately leading to application crashes and potential system instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to mobile device security and availability. The remote exploitation capability means attackers do not require physical access to target devices, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where iOS devices are extensively used for business operations. The impact extends beyond individual user inconvenience to potential business disruption, as calendar applications are fundamental to productivity and coordination. Organizations relying on iOS devices for critical operations face potential downtime and productivity loss when this vulnerability is exploited.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes resource exhaustion flaws in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under the denial of service tactic. Security professionals should recognize this as a critical vulnerability requiring immediate patch management and monitoring. The remediation approach involves updating affected iOS devices to version 10.3.3 or later, which includes proper input validation and resource management controls within the EventKitUI component. Organizations should implement proactive monitoring for exploitation attempts and maintain updated security patches across all iOS devices in their inventory to prevent successful exploitation of this vulnerability.