CVE-2014-1275 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in ImageIO in Apple iOS before 7.1 and Apple TV before 6.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via crafted JPEG2000 data in a PDF document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1275 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Apple's ImageIO framework that affected iOS versions prior to 7.1 and Apple TV versions prior to 6.1. This issue stems from improper handling of JPEG2000 image data embedded within PDF documents, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system through maliciously crafted file content. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of document processing and image decoding, where the ImageIO framework fails to properly validate the boundaries of image data during parsing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic buffer overflow condition where the ImageIO framework allocates insufficient memory buffers to accommodate the decoded JPEG2000 image data from PDF documents. When processing maliciously constructed JPEG2000 data, the framework attempts to write beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent memory regions including stack canaries, return addresses, or other critical program data structures. This memory corruption directly enables attackers to manipulate program execution flow and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application process. The flaw specifically manifests when the PDF viewer component attempts to render embedded JPEG2000 images, triggering the overflow condition during the image decompression and rendering phases.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to mobile and home entertainment environments where users frequently encounter PDF documents containing embedded images. Attackers can remotely deliver malicious PDF files through various vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites, requiring no special privileges or user interaction beyond opening the document. The impact ranges from arbitrary code execution to application crashes, with the potential for complete system compromise depending on the execution environment and privilege levels of the affected processes. The vulnerability's remote exploitability makes it particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter untrusted PDF content from unknown sources.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-1275 primarily focus on applying official security updates from Apple that address the underlying buffer overflow conditions in the ImageIO framework. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of iOS 7.1 and Apple TV 6.1 updates to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, network administrators should implement content filtering measures to block suspicious PDF files, particularly those containing embedded JPEG2000 images. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual PDF processing activities and memory allocation patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a typical example of how multimedia processing components can become attack vectors in modern operating systems. This flaw demonstrates the importance of input validation in multimedia frameworks and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of input validation vulnerabilities in document processing applications. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms and privilege separation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability could potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper system access.