CVE-2017-7020 in iTunes
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3.3 is affected. Safari before 10.1.2 is affected. iCloud before 6.2.2 on Windows is affected. iTunes before 12.6.2 on Windows is affected. tvOS before 10.2.2 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit" 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 • 01/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7020 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple Apple operating systems and applications. This security issue resides in the core web browsing component responsible for rendering web content across iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS platforms, as well as Windows applications like iCloud and iTunes. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of iOS prior to 10.3.3, Safari prior to 10.1.2, iCloud for Windows before 6.2.2, iTunes for Windows before 12.6.2, and tvOS before 10.2.2, demonstrating the widespread reach of this WebKit-based flaw.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within WebKit's JavaScript engine, creating conditions where remote attackers can craft malicious websites that trigger memory corruption errors when processed by affected applications. This memory corruption manifests as arbitrary code execution capabilities or denial of service conditions that result in application crashes and system instability. The flaw operates through the exploitation of memory management functions that fail to properly validate input data or handle memory allocation and deallocation sequences, creating potential attack vectors for remote code injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise through remote code execution. Attackers can leverage this flaw by hosting malicious web content that, when loaded in affected browsers or applications, triggers the memory corruption condition. This creates a significant risk for users who browse the internet on affected devices, as simply visiting a compromised website could result in unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-125 indicates it involves out-of-bounds read errors, while its potential for arbitrary code execution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1203 for exploitation for client execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7020 require immediate patch deployment across all affected Apple platforms and applications, with system administrators prioritizing updates to iOS 10.3.3, Safari 10.1.2, iCloud 6.2.2, iTunes 12.6.2, and tvOS 10.2.2. Organizations should implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to block access to known malicious domains until patches are deployed. Additionally, user education regarding safe browsing practices and the importance of keeping software updated remains crucial, as this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign web browsing activities can lead to complete system compromise. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and implement endpoint detection and response measures to identify potential exploitation attempts.