CVE-2017-7161 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. Safari before 11.0.2 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit Web Inspector" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via special characters that trigger command injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7161 represents a critical command injection flaw within Apple's Safari web browser affecting versions prior to 11.0.2. This security weakness resides within the WebKit Web Inspector component, which serves as a debugging and development tool for web applications. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the inspector's handling of special characters that are processed as part of command execution flows. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious payloads containing specially formatted special characters that bypass normal security boundaries and are subsequently interpreted as executable commands by the underlying system. The Web Inspector component, designed for legitimate debugging purposes, becomes a vector for arbitrary code execution when it processes untrusted input without proper sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a command injection pattern that aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88 categories, where attacker-controlled data flows into command execution functions without adequate validation. The flaw specifically manifests when the Web Inspector processes user-supplied input that contains special characters such as semicolons, pipes, or other shell metacharacters that are typically used to chain commands. When these characters are not properly escaped or filtered, they can trigger unintended command execution sequences within the browser's underlying system processes. This represents a classic path traversal and command injection vulnerability that leverages the inspector's privileged access to system resources and its ability to execute shell commands through the browser's integration with the operating system.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7161 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass full system compromise capabilities for remote attackers. Since the vulnerability affects Safari's Web Inspector component, it can be exploited through web-based attack vectors without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the user running Safari, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within a network. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where Safari is the primary browser and users may have elevated privileges. The attack surface is broad as any web content that triggers the Web Inspector component can potentially be leveraged for exploitation, making it a significant concern for organizations that do not maintain up-to-date browser versions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating Safari to version 11.0.2 or later, which contains patches addressing the command injection flaw in the Web Inspector component. Security administrators should also consider disabling the Web Inspector feature in production environments where it is not required for legitimate debugging purposes. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help detect and block malicious payloads containing the special characters that trigger the vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.001 for command and script injection techniques, emphasizing the need for input validation and privilege separation measures. Additional defensive strategies include implementing strict browser security policies, monitoring for unusual command execution patterns, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other browser components or web applications that may present similar attack surfaces.