CVE-2014-1280 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
Video Driver in Apple iOS before 7.1 and Apple TV before 6.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and device hang) via a crafted video file with MPEG-4 encoding.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1280 represents a critical flaw in Apple's video processing pipeline affecting iOS versions prior to 7.1 and Apple TV versions prior to 6.1. This issue resides within the video driver component responsible for handling MPEG-4 encoded media files, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors could exploit to disrupt device functionality. The vulnerability manifests through a specific class of malformed video files that, when processed by the affected systems, trigger unexpected behavior in the multimedia framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the MPEG-4 decoder component of Apple's operating systems. When a specially crafted video file containing malformed MPEG-4 structures is played, the video driver fails to properly handle edge cases in the file parsing process, leading to a NULL pointer dereference condition. This occurs because the decoder attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or allocated, resulting in system instability. The flaw operates at the kernel level within the multimedia processing stack, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect system-wide functionality rather than just individual applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can cause complete device hang conditions that require manual intervention to resolve. Attackers can remotely deliver malicious video content through various vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious streaming services, making the attack surface particularly broad. The device hang condition represents a critical failure state where the system becomes unresponsive and requires a hard reset to restore normal operation. This vulnerability directly impacts user productivity and can be exploited in targeted attacks against specific individuals or organizations, particularly in environments where mobile device security is paramount.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution. The flaw represents a classic buffer over-read scenario that can be leveraged for persistent denial of service attacks, potentially allowing attackers to maintain control over affected devices for extended periods. Organizations should implement immediate patch management protocols to address this vulnerability, as the window for exploitation remains significant given the widespread deployment of affected iOS and Apple TV versions. Network administrators should also consider implementing content filtering measures to prevent delivery of potentially malicious video content to affected devices, while security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this specific vulnerability class.