CVE-2017-7086 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability was found in specific Apple devices, affecting iOS versions prior to 11, macOS versions prior to 10.13, tvOS versions prior to 11, and watchOS versions prior to 4. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to induce a denial of service by overwhelming system resources through a maliciously crafted string.

Understanding CVE-2017-7086

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Apple devices related to the "libc" component.

What is CVE-2017-7086?

The vulnerability in CVE-2017-7086 enables remote attackers to cause a denial of service by exploiting a flaw in how the glob function handles certain strings.

The Impact of CVE-2017-7086

The vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers to overwhelm system resources, leading to a denial of service condition on affected devices.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-7086

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue involves the "libc" component in Apple devices, allowing attackers to trigger a denial of service by sending a specially crafted string.

Affected Systems and Versions

iOS versions prior to 11
macOS versions prior to 10.13
tvOS versions prior to 11
watchOS versions prior to 4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending a maliciously crafted string that is mishandled by the glob function, causing a resource consumption issue.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-7086 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply relevant security patches provided by Apple promptly.
Monitor system resources for unusual consumption that could indicate an attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update all Apple devices to the latest software versions.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious traffic.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all Apple devices are updated with the latest software patches to mitigate the vulnerability.