CVE-2017-7026 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3.3 is affected. macOS before 10.12.6 is affected. tvOS before 10.2.2 is affected. watchOS before 3.2.3 is affected. The issue involves the "Kernel" component. It allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7026 represents a critical kernel-level flaw affecting multiple Apple operating systems including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This vulnerability resides within the kernel component of Apple's operating systems, which serves as the core foundation responsible for system-level operations and resource management. The affected versions include iOS 10.3.2 and earlier, macOS 10.12.5 and earlier, tvOS 10.2.1 and earlier, and watchOS 3.2.2 and earlier, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The kernel serves as the central hub for all system operations and security controls, making any vulnerability within this component particularly dangerous as it can potentially provide attackers with elevated privileges and system-level access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code within a privileged context, meaning malicious applications could gain root-level access to system resources and perform operations that would normally be restricted to the operating system itself. This capability enables attackers to bypass traditional security mechanisms and potentially escalate their privileges to gain complete control over affected devices. The vulnerability manifests through a crafted application that, when executed, triggers memory corruption within the kernel space. This memory corruption can lead to either arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions, where the system becomes unstable and may crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a crafted app that can manipulate kernel memory structures in ways that the system's memory protection mechanisms fail to prevent.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7026 extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it creates a persistent security risk that could be exploited by malicious actors to establish persistent backdoors, steal sensitive data, or disrupt system operations. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to install malicious software that operates at the kernel level, making it extremely difficult to detect and remove. The vulnerability also presents a significant risk to enterprise environments where Apple devices are widely deployed, as a successful exploitation could compromise entire networks of devices. The memory corruption aspect of the vulnerability means that system stability could be compromised, leading to unexpected device shutdowns or crashes that could disrupt critical operations. Organizations relying on Apple devices for business operations face potential data loss, service interruptions, and increased risk of data breaches.
Apple addressed this vulnerability through the release of security updates for all affected operating systems including iOS 10.3.3, macOS 10.12.6, tvOS 10.2.2, and watchOS 3.2.3. These updates included kernel-level patches that prevent the memory corruption conditions that allowed arbitrary code execution. The remediation process requires users to update their devices to the latest supported versions, which typically involves downloading and installing software updates through the operating system's built-in update mechanisms. Security professionals should prioritize the deployment of these updates across all affected devices and monitor for any signs of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which describes weaknesses in memory safety, specifically memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to arbitrary code execution. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be used to achieve initial access and maintain persistence within targeted environments. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including application whitelisting, network monitoring, and endpoint detection and response solutions to provide defense-in-depth against potential exploitation attempts.