CVE-2017-7047 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 "libxpc" 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 • 06/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7047 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's libxpc component, which serves as a foundational inter-process communication library across iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS platforms. This vulnerability affects multiple operating system versions including 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. The libxpc library handles communication between different processes and system components, making it a critical attack surface for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the libxpc component, specifically involving buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that can be triggered by maliciously crafted applications. Attackers can exploit this flaw by developing a specially designed application that leverages the memory corruption to gain elevated privileges within the system. The vulnerability allows for execution of arbitrary code in a privileged context, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries and potentially enabling full system compromise. This type of flaw falls under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how inter-process communication libraries can become attack vectors when not properly secured against malformed input.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7047 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential denial of service scenarios and complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute malicious code with system-level privileges, potentially gaining access to sensitive user data, system files, and network resources. The vulnerability's exploitation capability makes it particularly dangerous in environments where users may inadvertently install malicious applications or where zero-day exploitation occurs. This weakness directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through exploitation of software vulnerabilities and defense evasion through code injection methods. The widespread nature of affected platforms means that organizations and individuals using these Apple operating systems were exposed to significant risk, particularly in enterprise environments where mobile device management and security policies are critical.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7047 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment through official Apple updates, as the vulnerability requires system-level fixes that cannot be addressed through application-level workarounds. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple devices to their respective patched versions, with particular attention to iOS 10.3.3, macOS 10.12.6, tvOS 10.2.2, and watchOS 3.2.3 releases. Security teams should implement monitoring for suspicious application installations and behavioral anomalies that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, network security controls including mobile device management solutions should be configured to enforce compliance with security updates and prevent installation of untrusted applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and highlights the critical need for organizations to establish robust vulnerability management processes that can quickly respond to emerging threats across all platform components.