CVE-2017-7060 in Safari
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. The issue involves the "Safari Printing" component. It allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (excessive print dialogs) via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7060 represents a significant security flaw within Apple's Safari browser and iOS operating system implementations. This issue specifically targets the Safari Printing component and affects iOS versions prior to 10.3.3 as well as Safari versions before 10.1.2. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign browser functionality can be exploited to create substantial operational disruptions. The vulnerability exists within the print dialog handling mechanism of Safari, where malicious web content can trigger an excessive number of print dialog windows that flood the user interface and render the browser unusable.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of print dialog requests within the Safari rendering engine. When a user visits a malicious website containing crafted print dialog triggers, the browser's printing subsystem fails to properly limit or terminate the dialog generation process. This allows attackers to create an infinite loop of print dialogs that consume system resources and ultimately cause the browser to become unresponsive. The flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the legitimate print functionality to execute a denial of service attack, making it particularly insidious as it appears to be a normal browser operation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser disruption to encompass broader security implications for affected systems. Users operating vulnerable versions of iOS or Safari are at risk of experiencing complete browser failure, which can interrupt productivity and potentially expose users to additional attack vectors. The excessive print dialogs can also consume significant memory and processing resources, potentially leading to system instability or performance degradation. Organizations relying on Safari for business operations or users who frequently access the web may find their systems compromised through this vector, as the attack requires no special privileges or authentication.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" and represents a classic denial of service scenario. The attack pattern follows techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category for "Network Denial of Service" where attackers leverage legitimate system functions to create resource exhaustion conditions. The vulnerability demonstrates how web-based attacks can target browser components that are frequently accessed, making it a preferred vector for attackers seeking to disrupt user activities. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may not be security-aware. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of Apple's security updates for iOS 10.3.3 and Safari 10.1.2, which address the print dialog handling logic and implement proper resource limits to prevent the excessive dialog generation that leads to service disruption.