CVE-2017-7065 in tvOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3.3 is affected. macOS before 10.12.6 is affected. tvOS before 10.2.2 is affected. The issue involves the "Wi-Fi" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code (on the Wi-Fi chip) or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) by leveraging proximity for 802.11.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7065 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's Wi-Fi implementation across multiple operating systems including iOS, macOS, and tvOS. This weakness specifically targets the Wi-Fi component and exploits the 802.11 wireless communication protocol to enable remote code execution or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects iOS versions prior to 10.3.3, macOS versions prior to 10.12.6, and tvOS versions prior to 10.2.2, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The security flaw manifests through proximity-based attacks that leverage the inherent characteristics of 802.11 wireless standards to compromise the Wi-Fi chip's operational integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the Wi-Fi chip's firmware or driver implementation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by positioning themselves in close proximity to targeted devices and transmitting specially crafted 802.11 frames that trigger memory corruption conditions on the Wi-Fi chip. This type of attack falls under the category of wireless protocol exploitation and represents a sophisticated form of remote code execution that bypasses traditional network security measures. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-122, which covers buffer overflow conditions. The attack vector specifically maps to the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through wireless protocols, demonstrating how modern wireless standards can become attack surfaces when implementation flaws exist.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7065 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to include full system compromise through remote code execution capabilities. When successfully exploited, attackers can gain arbitrary code execution privileges on the Wi-Fi chip itself, potentially allowing them to modify firmware, escalate privileges, or establish persistent access points within the device's wireless subsystem. This vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited without requiring physical access to the target device, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where wireless connectivity is essential. The memory corruption aspects of this vulnerability can lead to system crashes, data corruption, or even complete device lockout, depending on the specific exploitation method employed by threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7065 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Apple to address the underlying implementation flaws in the Wi-Fi subsystem. Organizations should prioritize deploying iOS 10.3.3, macOS 10.12.6, and tvOS 10.2.2 updates across all affected devices to eliminate the vulnerability. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous 802.11 traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's proximity requirement suggests that physical security measures and wireless environment monitoring could provide additional defense layers. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and wireless intrusion detection systems to identify and block suspicious 802.11 frames that could be part of exploitation attempts. The remediation approach aligns with standard vulnerability management practices and emphasizes the importance of timely patch deployment in maintaining wireless security posture.