CVE-2017-7066 in tvOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3.3 is affected. tvOS before 10.2.2 is affected. The issue involves the "Wi-Fi" component. It allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption on the Wi-Fi chip) by leveraging proximity for 802.11.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7066 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the Wi-Fi subsystem of affected Apple iOS and tvOS devices. This weakness specifically targets the 802.11 wireless communication protocols and affects iOS versions prior to 10.3.3 and tvOS versions prior to 10.2.2. The issue manifests when attackers exploit the proximity-based nature of 802.11 wireless protocols to deliver malicious payloads that trigger memory corruption on the Wi-Fi chip itself. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability class, which encompasses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and system instability. The attack vector leverages the inherent characteristics of wireless communication protocols to create a scenario where legitimate wireless traffic can be manipulated to cause unintended system behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially compromise the entire wireless communication capability of affected devices. When memory corruption occurs on the Wi-Fi chip, it can result in unpredictable system behavior including complete wireless connectivity failures, device crashes, or even potential privilege escalation scenarios. The proximity requirement for exploitation suggests that attackers need to be within physical range of target devices, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1486 for data destruction. This limitation on attack distance also means that the vulnerability could be particularly concerning in environments where physical access to devices is possible, such as corporate offices, public spaces, or controlled facilities where adversaries might position themselves near targets.
From a security architecture perspective, this vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management within embedded wireless chipsets. The flaw demonstrates how wireless protocol implementations can introduce attack surfaces that are difficult to detect through traditional network security measures since they operate at the hardware level. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can potentially be exploited to execute arbitrary code on the Wi-Fi chip itself, which would represent a significant compromise of the device's security model. Organizations and individuals should recognize that this vulnerability affects not just consumer devices but also enterprise deployments where Apple devices are commonly used, making it a critical concern for IT security teams responsible for maintaining wireless network integrity. The remediation process requires immediate deployment of the respective iOS 10.3.3 and tvOS 10.2.2 updates to address the underlying memory corruption issue and restore proper wireless functionality.
The broader implications of CVE-2017-7066 extend to understanding how wireless communication protocols can be weaponized to create persistent security threats. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that modern mobile devices contain complex hardware-software integration points that require comprehensive security testing. The fact that this issue affects the Wi-Fi component specifically indicates that the attack surface includes not only the software stack but also the hardware-level firmware that controls wireless chip operations. From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability could be exploited as part of a larger attack chain where initial access is gained through wireless manipulation before progressing to more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within the broader category of advanced persistent threats that can potentially be leveraged for reconnaissance, data exfiltration, or system compromise, making it a significant concern for organizations with sensitive data and critical infrastructure dependencies on Apple devices.