CVE-2017-7171 in watchOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.2 is affected. macOS before 10.13.2 is affected. tvOS before 11.2 is affected. watchOS before 4.2 is affected. The issue involves the "CoreAnimation" component. It allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7171 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's CoreAnimation framework affecting multiple operating systems including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations within the CoreAnimation component which is responsible for managing graphical animations and user interface elements in Apple's ecosystem. The flaw exists in the way the system processes certain animation-related data structures, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents through malicious applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and potentially CWE-125, representing out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially designed applications that trigger memory corruption within the CoreAnimation framework. When these malicious applications execute, they can cause the system to allocate memory incorrectly or access memory locations beyond their intended boundaries, leading to unpredictable behavior that may result in arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the privileged execution context where system-level operations occur, making it particularly dangerous as it could allow attackers to bypass normal security restrictions.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7171 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass potential full system compromise. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code within the system's privileged context, potentially allowing them to install malicious software, access sensitive user data, or modify system configurations. The affected platforms represent a broad attack surface including mobile devices, desktop computers, and media streaming devices, each presenting unique exploitation vectors. The vulnerability's presence in CoreAnimation means that any application utilizing animation features could serve as a potential attack vector, making it particularly insidious as legitimate applications might inadvertently trigger the memory corruption.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The attack chain typically involves initial compromise through a malicious application, followed by exploitation of the memory corruption to gain elevated privileges. Organizations and individuals should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond installing a malicious application. The remediation strategy should focus on updating to the patched versions of iOS 11.2, macOS 10.13.2, tvOS 11.2, and watchOS 4.2, which contain the necessary memory handling fixes that prevent the specific corruption patterns that enable exploitation. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, and security awareness training should emphasize the importance of only installing applications from trusted sources.