CVE-2017-7059 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
A DOMParser XSS issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3.3 is affected. Safari before 10.1.2 is affected. tvOS before 10.2.2 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit" component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2017-7059 represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability within the WebKit rendering engine component of Apple's ecosystem, specifically affecting iOS, Safari, and tvOS platforms. This DOMParser-based XSS flaw resides in the core web rendering functionality that processes and executes HTML content, making it a critical security concern for user privacy and application integrity. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the DOMParser implementation, which allows maliciously crafted HTML content to bypass security restrictions and execute unauthorized scripts in the context of the affected web applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when WebKit processes malformed or untrusted HTML content through the DOMParser API, which is commonly used for dynamic content generation and manipulation. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that leverage the DOMParser's handling of specific HTML constructs to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the browser context. This occurs because the parser does not adequately sanitize or validate input parameters before processing them, creating an attack surface where user-supplied content can be manipulated to execute unintended operations. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications and components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, data theft, and unauthorized access to user accounts. Mobile users are particularly at risk since iOS devices lack the same level of web security isolation that desktop browsers provide, making the exploitation more dangerous in mobile environments. The affected versions of Apple's products represent a significant portion of the user base, as iOS 10.3.2 and earlier versions, Safari 10.1.1 and earlier, and tvOS 10.2.1 and earlier were widely deployed across consumer and enterprise environments. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on DOMParser for processing dynamic content, making it a widespread concern across Apple's mobile and desktop platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7059 require immediate patching of affected Apple products to the latest versions that contain the security fixes. Organizations should implement web application firewalls and content security policies to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The fix typically involves enhanced input validation and sanitization within the DOMParser implementation, ensuring that untrusted content cannot be processed in ways that would lead to script execution. Security teams should also monitor for any exploitation attempts and implement network-based detection measures that can identify malicious payloads targeting this specific vulnerability. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211 which involves exploitation of known vulnerabilities in web browsers and applications, making it a priority for organizations to remediate as part of their vulnerability management processes.