CVE-2017-7029 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 bypass intended memory-read restrictions via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7029 represents a critical kernel-level security flaw affecting multiple Apple operating systems including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This issue resides within the kernel component of Apple's operating systems, specifically targeting memory protection mechanisms that are fundamental to system security. The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass intended memory-read restrictions through the execution of a crafted application, fundamentally undermining the memory isolation principles that protect system integrity. The affected versions include iOS versions prior to 10.3.3, macOS versions prior to 10.12.6, tvOS versions prior to 10.2.2, and watchOS versions prior to 3.2.3, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of kernel-level privilege escalation and memory corruption issues that can lead to complete system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory access controls within the kernel's memory management subsystem. When a malicious application is executed, it can exploit a flaw in how the kernel handles memory read operations, allowing unauthorized access to protected memory regions that should only be accessible to the kernel itself or authorized system processes. This bypass mechanism operates at the lowest level of the operating system, making it particularly dangerous as it can enable attackers to read sensitive kernel memory, potentially extracting cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a crafted application that leverages specific kernel memory access patterns, making it a sophisticated attack vector that requires careful exploitation techniques. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which describes a condition where a program reads data past the end of a valid buffer, and CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, as it involves the kernel's failure to properly validate memory access requests from user-space applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7029 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and potentially gain complete control over affected devices. Once exploited, the vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing all user-space security measures including application sandboxing, code signing, and system integrity protection mechanisms. This type of vulnerability represents a significant threat to device security and user privacy, as it enables persistent access to sensitive system resources that are typically protected from unauthorized access. The attack vector through a crafted app means that users could be compromised simply by installing a malicious application, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for mobile and embedded device environments where users may inadvertently download compromised applications from untrusted sources. The vulnerability's impact is further amplified by its presence across multiple Apple platforms, suggesting a systemic issue within the kernel's memory management architecture that affects a broad user base.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7029 primarily involve applying the official security updates released by Apple to address the kernel-level flaw. Users should immediately update their affected devices to the patched versions including iOS 10.3.3, macOS 10.12.6, tvOS 10.2.2, and watchOS 3.2.3, which contain the necessary kernel patches to prevent exploitation. System administrators should ensure that all managed devices are updated through proper channel management and security policies. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, monitoring for suspicious application installations, and maintaining up-to-date endpoint protection solutions that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and kernel exploitation, specifically targeting the T1056.001: Input Injection and T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation tactics. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle kernel-level vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current system patches and demonstrates how low-level kernel flaws can have cascading effects on overall system security posture.