CVE-2017-7160 in tvOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.2 is affected. Safari before 11.0.2 is affected. iCloud before 7.2 on Windows is affected. iTunes before 12.7.2 on Windows is affected. tvOS before 11.2 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 • 01/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7160 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple Apple operating systems and applications. This vulnerability resides in the core web browsing component responsible for processing and rendering web content across Apple's ecosystem, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise user systems through malicious web pages. The affected versions include iOS before 11.2, Safari before 11.0.2, iCloud before 7.2 on Windows, iTunes before 12.7.2 on Windows, and tvOS before 11.2, demonstrating the widespread impact across Apple's diverse product portfolio.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within WebKit's JavaScript engine, specifically in how it processes certain web content structures. Attackers could craft malicious websites that, when loaded in affected browsers, would trigger memory corruption conditions that could be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the compromised application. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing and execution of JavaScript code, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially overwrite critical program structures.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7160 extends beyond simple application crashes, presenting significant security risks to users who browse the web regularly. Remote attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to compromised systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data exfiltration. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for client execution, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage. The vulnerability affects not just mobile devices but also desktop operating systems, creating a broad attack surface that could be exploited in targeted campaigns against corporate or individual users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of all affected Apple products, as the flaw could be exploited without user knowledge or consent. Organizations should have implemented network-based protections such as web proxies with content filtering capabilities and DNS-level blocking of known malicious domains. The remediation process involved updating to patched versions of iOS 11.2, Safari 11.0.2, iCloud 7.2, iTunes 12.7.2, and tvOS 11.2, which addressed the underlying memory handling issues in WebKit. Security teams should have monitored for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and implemented endpoint detection and response solutions to identify potential compromise indicators. Additionally, user education regarding safe browsing practices and the importance of keeping software updated became critical in reducing exposure to this and similar vulnerabilities.