CVE-2017-7112 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-2017-7112 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 resides within the Wi-Fi component of these systems, specifically affecting how they process incoming Wi-Fi traffic. The flaw stems from improper handling of crafted Wi-Fi packets that could potentially trigger memory corruption within the system's privileged execution context. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which encompasses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The attack vector for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it allows remote attackers to exploit the flaw without requiring physical access to the device or any form of authentication. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code within the system's privileged context, potentially leading to full system compromise. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes the use of local privilege escalation to gain elevated system access. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability can also result in denial of service conditions, where the system becomes unstable or crashes due to improper memory management during Wi-Fi packet processing.
The technical nature of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer overflow or memory corruption issue within the Wi-Fi stack implementation. When the affected systems receive crafted Wi-Fi traffic, the parsing logic fails to properly validate input data, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to execute malicious code with system privileges. This type of flaw typically occurs when developers fail to implement proper bounds checking on network packet data or when they assume certain data structures will always conform to expected formats. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction since it operates over the network and can be triggered by simply receiving malicious Wi-Fi packets. The affected platforms share a common Wi-Fi stack implementation that contains this flaw, making all supported versions vulnerable to the same attack vectors. Security researchers have identified that the vulnerability exists in the kernel-level Wi-Fi drivers and networking components that handle wireless communication protocols. The attack scenario typically involves an attacker positioned within range of a target device, capable of transmitting malicious Wi-Fi frames that trigger the memory corruption in the vulnerable system's Wi-Fi processing components.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7112 extends far beyond individual device compromise as it affects millions of Apple devices worldwide that were running the vulnerable software versions. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring any form of user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in environments where wireless networks are prevalent. The potential for arbitrary code execution in a privileged context means that attackers could gain complete control over affected devices, potentially leading to data theft, surveillance, or further network penetration. Organizations relying on Apple devices for business operations face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it could enable attackers to establish persistent access points within their networks. The denial of service aspect of the vulnerability also presents serious operational concerns, as it could cause devices to crash or become unresponsive, disrupting critical services or communications. The widespread adoption of affected Apple products across both consumer and enterprise environments amplifies the potential impact of this vulnerability. Security professionals must consider this vulnerability as part of their threat modeling efforts, particularly when evaluating wireless network security in environments where Apple devices are present. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Apple operating systems indicates a fundamental flaw in the networking stack implementation that affects the entire Apple ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7112 primarily focus on updating affected systems to versions that contain patches for this vulnerability. Apple released iOS 11, tvOS 11, and watchOS 4 to address this flaw, making these updates critical for device security. Network administrators should implement wireless network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability can be triggered by simply receiving malicious Wi-Fi traffic. Organizations should consider implementing network access controls that limit wireless traffic from untrusted sources and deploy intrusion detection systems capable of identifying suspicious Wi-Fi packet patterns. The patching process should be prioritized immediately, as this vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. Security teams should also consider implementing device management solutions that can automatically deploy security updates to all affected Apple devices within their environment. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary Wi-Fi functionality when devices are not in use and implementing network monitoring to detect unusual wireless traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's nature as a memory corruption issue makes it particularly important to maintain up-to-date security patches, as these typically contain fixes for known buffer overflow conditions and memory handling flaws. Organizations should also consider conducting vulnerability assessments to identify all devices running affected versions of Apple operating systems and prioritize their remediation efforts accordingly. The implementation of network-level controls such as firewall rules that restrict wireless traffic can provide additional protection while waiting for comprehensive patch deployment across all affected systems.