CVE-2017-2411 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2017-2411 article provides insights into an iOS vulnerability related to the insecure retrieval of exchange rates.

Understanding CVE-2017-2411

This CVE pertains to the use of HTTP instead of HTTPS for obtaining exchange rates in iOS versions prior to 11.2.

What is CVE-2017-2411?

In iOS versions before 11.2, exchange rates were fetched over HTTP, posing a security risk. The issue was mitigated by transitioning to HTTPS for secure data retrieval.

The Impact of CVE-2017-2411

The vulnerability exposed user data to potential interception and manipulation due to the lack of encryption during exchange rate retrieval.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-2411

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw involved the insecure transmission of exchange rate data over unencrypted HTTP connections, leaving it susceptible to eavesdropping.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: All versions prior to iOS 11.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could intercept unencrypted exchange rate requests and potentially modify the data before it reached the user's device.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to address and prevent this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update iOS devices to version 11.2 or later to ensure exchange rate data is retrieved securely via HTTPS.
Avoid using unsecured networks when accessing financial information on iOS devices.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update iOS devices to the latest software versions to patch known security vulnerabilities.
Educate users on the importance of secure data transmission and the risks associated with unencrypted connections.

Patching and Updates

Apple addressed this vulnerability by implementing HTTPS for exchange rate retrieval in iOS version 11.2 and subsequent releases.