CVE-2017-7103 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11 is affected. tvOS before 11 is affected. watchOS before 4 is affected. The issue involves the "Wi-Fi" component. It might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via crafted Wi-Fi traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7103 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's Wi-Fi implementation across multiple operating systems including iOS versions prior to 11, tvOS versions prior to 11, and watchOS versions prior to 4. This vulnerability specifically targets the Wi-Fi component of these systems, exposing them to potential exploitation through maliciously crafted Wi-Fi traffic. The flaw exists at the kernel level within the Wi-Fi subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it operates in a privileged execution context where malicious code could potentially gain elevated privileges and compromise system integrity. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-119 category of "Improper Access to Memory" and specifically relates to memory corruption issues that can occur when processing untrusted network input. This type of vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution flaw in the ATT&CK framework under the technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the Wi-Fi driver components that process incoming network packets. When the affected systems receive crafted Wi-Fi traffic containing malformed or specially constructed packets, the Wi-Fi subsystem fails to properly validate the data before processing it, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. This memory corruption occurs during the parsing of Wi-Fi management frames or data frames, where buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions may be triggered by maliciously constructed network payloads. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not need physical access to the device, as they can exploit this flaw over the air through wireless networks, making it particularly dangerous in public Wi-Fi environments or when users connect to compromised networks. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service scenarios where system stability is compromised through memory corruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7103 is severe given that it affects widely deployed consumer and enterprise devices across Apple's ecosystem. Devices running vulnerable versions of iOS, tvOS, and watchOS represent a substantial attack surface that could be exploited by threat actors to gain persistent access to user devices, potentially leading to data theft, surveillance, or further network infiltration. The privilege escalation aspect of this vulnerability means that successful exploitation could provide attackers with complete control over the affected devices, enabling them to install malware, access sensitive user data, or use the compromised devices as launching points for attacks on other systems. This vulnerability particularly affects mobile devices where users frequently connect to public Wi-Fi networks, creating numerous potential attack vectors. Organizations relying on Apple devices for business operations face significant risk exposure, as this vulnerability could be exploited to target corporate networks through compromised employee devices. The widespread deployment of affected versions of these operating systems means that the potential attack surface is extensive, with many users unknowingly running vulnerable software.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7103 primarily focus on immediate software updates and operational security measures. Apple released security updates for iOS 11, tvOS 11, and watchOS 4 that address this vulnerability by implementing proper input validation and memory management techniques within the Wi-Fi subsystem. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these security patches across all affected devices, particularly those used in enterprise environments where the risk of compromise is higher. Network administrators should implement additional monitoring and intrusion detection measures to identify potentially malicious Wi-Fi traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Users should be educated about the risks of connecting to untrusted wireless networks and the importance of keeping their devices updated with the latest security patches. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and operating systems, as well as implementing network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of such exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control measures and wireless network monitoring to detect anomalous traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Given the nature of the vulnerability, it is recommended to disable unnecessary Wi-Fi functionality when not in use and to maintain strict network access controls to minimize potential attack vectors. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patches to ensure compatibility with existing network infrastructure and applications.