CVE-2017-7107 in tvOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11 is affected. Safari before 11 is affected. iCloud before 7.0 on Windows is affected. iTunes before 12.7 on Windows is affected. tvOS before 11 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7107 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple Apple operating systems and applications. This vulnerability specifically impacts iOS versions prior to 11.0, Safari versions before 11.0, iCloud versions prior to 7.0 on Windows, iTunes versions prior to 12.7 on Windows, and tvOS versions prior to 11.0. The flaw resides in the WebKit component which serves as the core web rendering engine for Apple's browser applications and integrated web views across their ecosystem. This memory corruption vulnerability creates a pathway for remote attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems or cause denial of service conditions through carefully crafted web content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within WebKit's JavaScript engine, particularly in how it processes certain web page elements and JavaScript code execution. Attackers can exploit this flaw by hosting malicious websites that trigger specific memory corruption patterns when the affected WebKit components attempt to render the crafted content. The vulnerability allows for both remote code execution and denial of service conditions, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The memory corruption occurs during the JavaScript execution phase when the WebKit engine fails to properly validate or handle certain input parameters, leading to unpredictable memory state changes that can be manipulated by attackers to execute malicious code or cause application crashes.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7107 extends across Apple's entire ecosystem, affecting users of mobile devices, desktop applications, and integrated services. The vulnerability's broad scope means that users across multiple platforms are at risk, from iOS smartphone and tablet users to Windows desktop users running iCloud and iTunes applications, as well as Apple TV users. This widespread impact creates significant security concerns for enterprises and individual users alike, as the attack surface includes not only web browsing but also integrated applications that rely on WebKit for web content rendering. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, compromised web applications, or even through social engineering campaigns that direct users to exploit the vulnerability. The potential for remote code execution means that attackers could gain full control over affected systems, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, and further lateral movement within network environments.
Organizations and individual users should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to the affected software versions that contain patches for this vulnerability. Apple released security updates for iOS 11.0, Safari 11.0, iCloud 7.0, iTunes 12.7, and tvOS 11.0 that address the memory corruption issue in WebKit. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected Apple devices and applications are updated promptly. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect potential exploitation attempts, including unusual network traffic patterns or attempts to access known malicious domains. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing security frameworks that follow these standardized classifications. Additionally, users should maintain awareness of social engineering tactics that might attempt to direct them to malicious websites designed to exploit this vulnerability, as the attack requires no user interaction beyond visiting a compromised site, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios.