CVE-2017-7051 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.12.6 is affected. The issue involves the "Bluetooth" 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-2017-7051 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's macOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.12.6. This weakness resides within the Bluetooth component of the system, which serves as a fundamental networking interface for wireless device communication. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of Bluetooth-related data structures during device pairing and connection processes, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw specifically manifests when a crafted application attempts to establish Bluetooth connections with affected systems, triggering unexpected behavior in the underlying system components. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can lead to privilege escalation or system instability, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise and personal computing environments where Bluetooth connectivity is commonly utilized. The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition, indicating that the system attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries during Bluetooth protocol handling.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2017-7051 requires an attacker to have the ability to run a malicious application on a target system that is running an affected version of macOS. The attack vector specifically targets the Bluetooth subsystem through carefully crafted data packets or connection sequences that cause memory corruption within kernel-level processes. When the vulnerable Bluetooth driver processes the malformed data, it can lead to arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges, effectively allowing attackers to bypass normal security restrictions and gain unauthorized access to system resources. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability means that attackers can manipulate the system's memory layout to execute malicious instructions in kernel space, which provides complete system compromise capabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute commands with system-level privileges. The flaw demonstrates how wireless communication protocols can serve as attack surfaces when proper input validation and memory management practices are not implemented within system components.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7051 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security infrastructure and personal device safety. Organizations relying on macOS systems for business operations face potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive information when affected versions are in use. The vulnerability's potential for denial of service means that attackers could disrupt normal system operations, causing service interruptions that impact productivity and business continuity. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access points within networks, particularly in scenarios where Bluetooth devices are frequently paired with macOS systems. The risk is amplified because the vulnerability can be triggered through seemingly legitimate applications, making detection and prevention more challenging. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat landscape, as it can be leveraged in combination with other attack vectors to achieve more sophisticated compromise objectives. The memory corruption nature of the flaw also means that system stability is at risk, potentially leading to unexpected system crashes or reboots that could disrupt critical operations.
Organizations and users must implement immediate mitigation strategies to address CVE-2017-7051, with the most effective approach being the upgrade to macOS version 10.12.6 or later. Apple released this update specifically to address the vulnerability in the Bluetooth subsystem, implementing proper memory bounds checking and input validation procedures. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected macOS devices, particularly those in high-risk environments such as financial institutions, healthcare organizations, or government agencies. Additional protective measures include disabling Bluetooth functionality when not in use, implementing network segmentation to limit Bluetooth device communication, and monitoring for suspicious Bluetooth connection patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider deploying endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block malicious applications attempting to exploit this vulnerability. The implementation of security awareness training for users can help prevent the execution of untrusted applications that might contain malicious code designed to exploit this vulnerability. Organizations should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any remaining systems that may be affected and ensure that all Bluetooth-related services are properly configured to minimize attack surface exposure. The remediation process should include verification that the update has been successfully applied and that the Bluetooth subsystem is functioning correctly without the memory corruption issues that previously existed.