CVE-2017-7151 in iTunes
Summary
by MITRE
A race condition was addressed with additional validation. This issue affected versions prior to iOS 11.2, macOS High Sierra 10.13.2, tvOS 11.2, watchOS 4.2, iTunes 12.7.2 for Windows, macOS High Sierra 10.13.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7151 represents a race condition flaw that existed in multiple Apple operating systems and software components prior to specific security updates. This type of vulnerability occurs when multiple processes or threads attempt to access shared resources simultaneously, creating opportunities for unpredictable behavior and potential security breaches. The race condition specifically affected Apple's ecosystem across iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS platforms, as well as iTunes for Windows and macOS High Sierra versions. The issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that fail to properly synchronize access to critical system resources during concurrent operations.
The technical implementation of this race condition involves scenarios where system components perform operations that depend on the state of shared data structures or resources without adequate locking mechanisms or validation checks. When multiple threads or processes attempt to modify or access these resources simultaneously, the system may execute operations in an unexpected sequence that leads to security implications. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of concurrency-related issues that are commonly classified as CWE-362 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which specifically addresses "Race Conditions." The flaw allows for potential privilege escalation or unauthorized access to system resources that should remain protected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across Apple's entire ecosystem of consumer and enterprise devices, affecting users who relied on iOS devices, Mac computers, Apple TV sets, and Apple Watch devices for their daily operations. Security researchers and threat actors could potentially exploit this race condition to gain elevated privileges within the affected systems, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive user data, system files, or network resources. The vulnerability's presence in iTunes for Windows also meant that corporate environments using Apple's desktop synchronization software were at risk, particularly in scenarios involving automated deployment or enterprise device management. Organizations running affected versions of these systems faced increased exposure to potential attacks that could compromise their device security posture.
Apple addressed this vulnerability through comprehensive security updates released as part of iOS 11.2, macOS High Sierra 10.13.2, tvOS 11.2, and watchOS 4.2 releases. These updates introduced additional validation mechanisms and improved synchronization protocols to prevent the race condition from occurring during system operations. The mitigation strategy involved implementing proper locking mechanisms, enhanced validation checks, and improved resource management protocols to ensure that concurrent access to shared system components does not lead to security breaches. Organizations should prioritize deployment of these security updates across their device fleets to eliminate exposure to this race condition vulnerability. The fix aligns with recommended practices from the ATT&CK framework for privilege escalation techniques, specifically addressing the conditions that enable attackers to exploit concurrency flaws in operating system components. System administrators should verify that all affected devices have received the appropriate security updates and maintain continuous monitoring for similar vulnerabilities that may arise from concurrent system operations.