CVE-2017-2391 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Certain Apple products, including Pages, Numbers, and Keynote on macOS and iOS, are affected by a vulnerability that allows users to bypass iWork PDF password protection.

Understanding CVE-2017-2391

This CVE involves a security issue in specific Apple products that enables users to circumvent PDF password protection.

What is CVE-2017-2391?

The problem affects Pages, Numbers, and Keynote versions on macOS and iOS.
The vulnerability lies in the "Export" feature, allowing exploitation of 40-bit RC4 encryption.

The Impact of CVE-2017-2391

Users can bypass iWork PDF password protection, potentially compromising document security.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-2391

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue affects Pages prior to 6.1, Numbers prior to 4.1, and Keynote prior to 7.1 on macOS.
For iOS, the affected versions are Pages prior to 3.1, Numbers prior to 3.1, and Keynote prior to 3.1.

Affected Systems and Versions

macOS: Pages < 6.1, Numbers < 4.1, Keynote < 7.1
iOS: Pages < 3.1, Numbers < 3.1, Keynote < 3.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting the "Export" feature in iWork applications to bypass PDF password protection.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems and data from CVE-2017-2391 with these mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected Apple products to the latest versions.
Avoid exporting sensitive documents using vulnerable versions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to patch security vulnerabilities.
Implement strong password protection and encryption for sensitive documents.

Patching and Updates

Apple has released patches for the affected versions, ensure timely installation of these updates.