CVE-2017-7097 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11 is affected. The issue involves the "Mail MessageUI" component. It allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7097 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's iOS Mail MessageUI component affecting versions prior to iOS 11. This vulnerability resides in the handling of crafted image files within the email client's message composition and display functionality, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit memory management issues through seemingly benign email attachments. The flaw specifically targets the image processing pipeline within the Mail application's user interface framework, where improper validation of image metadata and binary data structures leads to unpredictable memory behavior. Security researchers identified that when the system attempts to render or process a specially crafted image file, the memory corruption occurs during the decompression or rendering phase of the image handling code. This memory corruption manifests as heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that can result in arbitrary code execution or complete application crash. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple security domains including memory safety, image processing, and mobile operating system security, making it particularly dangerous in the context of mobile email clients where users frequently interact with potentially malicious attachments. The attack vector requires minimal user interaction beyond opening an email containing the crafted image, making it highly effective for social engineering campaigns.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic memory safety issue that aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. The flaw specifically exploits improper bounds checking during image file parsing, where the MessageUI framework fails to validate image dimensions, color depth, or metadata structures before processing them. Attackers can craft image files with maliciously constructed headers or embedded data that triggers the vulnerable code path when the iOS Mail application attempts to display or preview the email attachment. The vulnerability's exploitation potential extends beyond simple denial of service to include more sophisticated attacks leveraging the memory corruption for privilege escalation or information disclosure. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability affects all iOS devices running versions earlier than iOS 11, including iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models that have not received the relevant security patch. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where email-based attacks are common and where users may inadvertently open malicious emails containing crafted images. The vulnerability's low attack complexity and high impact make it an attractive target for threat actors seeking to compromise iOS devices without requiring advanced technical skills or specialized equipment.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7097 extends beyond immediate device compromise to include broader security implications for mobile email ecosystems and enterprise information security. Organizations utilizing iOS devices for business communications face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it can be exploited through standard email delivery mechanisms without requiring user authentication or specialized malware installation. The vulnerability's presence in the MessageUI component means that even simple email previews or attachment handling can trigger the exploit, making it difficult for users to protect themselves through basic security awareness practices. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in mobile application frameworks, particularly those handling untrusted data from external sources. The flaw's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services, and T1059, which addresses command and control communication. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including mandatory iOS updates to version 11 or later, email filtering solutions that scan for suspicious image file characteristics, and user education programs that emphasize the dangers of opening untrusted email attachments. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual memory allocation patterns or network traffic anomalies associated with the vulnerable iOS Mail component. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security updates and proper vulnerability management processes in mobile enterprise environments where device security directly impacts organizational data protection.