CVE-2017-7052 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-2017-7052 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affects multiple operating systems and applications. This vulnerability specifically targets the WebKit component which serves as the foundation for web content rendering across Apple's ecosystem including iOS Safari, macOS Safari, iTunes, iCloud, and tvOS applications. The flaw exists in the way WebKit processes certain web content, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit memory handling mechanisms and potentially gain unauthorized code execution capabilities. The vulnerability affects versions of iOS prior to 10.3.3, Safari versions before 10.1.2, iCloud for Windows versions before 6.2.2, iTunes for Windows versions before 12.6.2, and tvOS versions before 10.2.2, demonstrating the widespread nature of the issue across Apple's software portfolio. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which represents "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions in software development, where applications access memory locations beyond their allocated bounds. The attack vector is particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through malicious websites, making it an attractive target for remote exploitation campaigns that leverage the inherent trust users place in web browsing activities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to manipulate memory structures within the WebKit engine through carefully crafted web content that triggers buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions. When a user visits an attacker-controlled website, the malicious content can cause the WebKit rendering engine to access invalid memory addresses or corrupt existing memory segments, leading to unpredictable behavior including application crashes or more severely, arbitrary code execution. This type of memory corruption vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited to bypass security mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries that are designed to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as successful exploitation can enable attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the compromised application, potentially leading to full system compromise. The exploitation requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised websites that can be leveraged for widespread attacks. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the use of web-based attacks to gain initial access and establish a foothold within target environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7052 extends beyond immediate security concerns to encompass significant business and operational risks for organizations relying on Apple products for their computing infrastructure. Given that the vulnerability affects widely used applications like Safari and iTunes, the potential attack surface is extensive across both consumer and enterprise environments. Organizations utilizing Apple devices for business operations face increased risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory compliance violations when these systems remain unpatched. The vulnerability's ability to cause application crashes and memory corruption creates instability that can disrupt business operations, particularly in environments where continuous availability is critical. The remote nature of the exploit means that organizations cannot rely on network segmentation or traditional perimeter defenses alone to protect against this threat, as users can be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites from any location. Security teams must implement proactive monitoring and rapid response protocols to address this vulnerability, as the exploitation can occur without any user awareness or interaction beyond normal web browsing activities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches across all systems within an organization, as the affected versions represent outdated software that lacks current security mitigations and protections against known attack patterns. The widespread nature of the affected products means that organizations must coordinate patching efforts across multiple platforms and applications, increasing the complexity of vulnerability management and remediation activities.