CVE-2014-1282 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
The Profiles component in Apple iOS before 7.1 and Apple TV before 6.1 allows attackers to bypass intended configuration-profile visibility requirements via a long name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1282 resides within Apple's Profiles component that governs configuration profile management across iOS devices and Apple TV systems. This weakness affects versions prior to iOS 7.1 and Apple TV 6.1, representing a significant security flaw in the operating system's profile handling mechanisms. The issue manifests when the system processes configuration profiles with excessively long names, creating a scenario where legitimate access controls can be circumvented through crafted input manipulation.
This vulnerability constitutes a classic buffer overflow or input validation flaw that operates at the boundary of system resource handling. The technical implementation fails to properly validate the length of profile names during processing, allowing an attacker to craft a configuration profile with an abnormally long name that exceeds normal processing limits. The system's failure to enforce proper boundary checks creates an exploitable condition where the intended visibility requirements for configuration profiles can be bypassed, potentially allowing unauthorized access to restricted profile information or functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple profile access bypass, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the security model governing configuration profiles within Apple's ecosystem. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized visibility into profile configurations that should remain restricted, potentially exposing sensitive organizational or personal information contained within these profiles. The vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where configuration profiles are used to manage device settings, security policies, and application restrictions, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on Apple's mobile device management capabilities.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which addresses buffer overflow conditions in stack-based buffers, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 related to credentials in files. The flaw represents a privilege escalation vector that allows attackers to bypass access controls that should prevent unauthorized profile inspection. Organizations utilizing Apple devices for enterprise management face particular risk as this vulnerability could enable attackers to discover and potentially exploit other security mechanisms within the profile system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-1282 require immediate system updates to iOS 7.1 and Apple TV 6.1, which contain the necessary patches addressing the profile name validation issue. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring for unusual profile creation or modification activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network administrators should consider implementing additional access controls and limiting profile distribution to only necessary users. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and boundary checking in security-critical systems, reinforcing industry best practices for secure coding and the need for comprehensive testing of edge cases in system input handling mechanisms.