CVE-2017-7058 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3.3 is affected. The issue involves the "Notifications" component. It allows physically proximate attackers to read unintended notifications on the lock screen.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7058 represents a significant security flaw in Apple's iOS operating system affecting versions prior to 10.3.3. This issue resides within the Notifications component and demonstrates a critical weakness in the device's lock screen security model. The vulnerability specifically allows attackers who are physically proximate to a target device to access notifications that should remain restricted to the device's legitimate owner. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and undermines the fundamental security assumptions of mobile device lock screen protection mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper access controls within the notification handling system. When notifications are displayed on the lock screen, the system should enforce strict authentication and authorization checks to prevent unauthorized access. However, the flaw in iOS versions before 10.3.3 allows an attacker with physical proximity to the device to bypass these controls and read sensitive information contained within notifications. This typically occurs through a combination of system-level access and the absence of proper session management for lock screen notification display. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the device's notification framework to access information that should be protected by the device's security context.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates serious privacy and security risks for users who may be targeted by attackers in physical proximity to their devices. The exposure of lock screen notifications can lead to information disclosure attacks that reveal sensitive personal data, financial information, email contents, or other confidential communications. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical expertise and only physical proximity to the target device. This makes it a viable threat for social engineering attacks, corporate espionage, or personal harassment scenarios where an attacker can simply walk up to a victim's device and read potentially sensitive notifications without needing to authenticate or bypass any security mechanisms.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems, and represents a failure in implementing proper access control mechanisms for sensitive data exposure. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers "Unsecured Credentials" and involves accessing information through physical proximity attacks. The risk is compounded by the fact that many notifications contain highly sensitive information such as two-factor authentication codes, banking information, personal communications, or business confidential data. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where mobile devices may contain classified information or access credentials to critical systems.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of iOS 10.3.3 or later updates, which contain the necessary patches to address the access control flaw in the notification system. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as enabling strong passcode requirements, configuring automatic lock screen timeouts, and educating users about the risks of leaving devices unattended. Mobile device management solutions should be configured to enforce security policies that minimize notification exposure on lock screens, and organizations should consider implementing additional authentication layers for devices containing sensitive information. The vulnerability highlights the importance of continuous security monitoring and timely patch management to protect against physical proximity attacks that exploit access control weaknesses in mobile operating systems.