CVE-2017-7147 in Support App
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. The Apple Support app before 1.2 for iOS is affected. The issue involves the "Analytics" component. It allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive analytics information by leveraging its presence in a cleartext HTTP transmission to an Adobe Marketing Cloud server operated for Apple, as demonstrated by information about the installation date and time.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7147 represents a significant security flaw in Apple's Support app for iOS devices, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.2. This weakness resides within the application's Analytics component and demonstrates how seemingly benign data collection mechanisms can be exploited to compromise user privacy and system security. The issue stems from the application's improper handling of sensitive information during transmission to external servers, creating an avenue for unauthorized data interception and analysis by malicious actors operating in the network traffic.
The technical flaw manifests through the cleartext HTTP transmission of analytics data to Adobe Marketing Cloud servers that Apple utilizes for support analytics purposes. This implementation violates fundamental security principles by transmitting sensitive information without encryption, making it susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks and network monitoring. The analytics data includes installation date and time information, which while seemingly innocuous, can provide attackers with valuable contextual information about device usage patterns, user behavior, and potential security vulnerabilities within the Apple ecosystem. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-319 - Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information, which specifically addresses the transmission of confidential data over networks without proper encryption mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked analytics data could enable sophisticated attackers to build detailed profiles of Apple Support app users. The installation timing information, when combined with other potential data points, could facilitate targeted attacks, social engineering campaigns, or help attackers understand user adoption patterns and system configurations. This represents a significant privacy concern for iOS users who may not be aware that their support application is transmitting such information in an unencrypted format, potentially exposing them to various forms of surveillance and tracking activities.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing secure communication protocols even for applications that appear to be non-critical or administrative in nature. The attack surface created by this flaw allows remote adversaries to leverage network monitoring capabilities to gather intelligence about Apple device users. Security professionals should consider this issue when evaluating the risk posture of iOS environments, particularly in enterprise settings where such information could be exploited for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the need for proper security testing of mobile applications, especially those that communicate with third-party services, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's tactics related to credential access and reconnaissance activities.
Apple addressed this vulnerability through the release of Support app version 1.2, which implemented proper encryption for data transmission to Adobe Marketing Cloud servers. Organizations should ensure all iOS devices are updated to the latest version of the Support app to mitigate this risk, while security teams should monitor for similar patterns in other mobile applications that may be transmitting sensitive data without adequate protection. The remediation process involved implementing HTTPS encryption for all analytics data transmission, aligning with industry best practices for protecting sensitive information in transit. This case study serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure communication protocols in mobile applications and the potential consequences of failing to implement proper encryption measures for data transmission.