CVE-2014-1324 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit, as used in Apple Safari before 6.1.4 and 7.x before 7.0.4, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted web site, a different vulnerability than other WebKit CVEs listed in APPLE-SA-2014-05-21-1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2021
This vulnerability resides within the WebKit rendering engine that powers Apple Safari browser across multiple versions including Safari 6.1.3 and earlier, as well as Safari 7.x versions prior to 7.0.4. The flaw represents a critical memory corruption issue that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems or cause denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content. The vulnerability operates by exploiting memory management weaknesses in how WebKit processes certain web elements, creating opportunities for privilege escalation and system compromise. This particular vulnerability differs from other WebKit-related issues documented in APPLE-SA-2014-05-21-1, indicating a distinct code path or memory handling mechanism that requires separate remediation approaches. The security implications extend beyond simple browser exploitation as the memory corruption can potentially lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves sophisticated memory corruption techniques that leverage WebKit's handling of specific web page elements or JavaScript operations. Attackers can craft web pages containing malicious code that triggers buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management flaws within the browser engine. These conditions typically manifest when the browser processes certain types of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript code that causes the WebKit engine to improperly manage memory allocation and deallocation. The vulnerability's impact ranges from application crashes and denial of service conditions to full remote code execution capabilities, depending on the specific memory corruption pattern and the attacker's ability to control the execution flow. This type of vulnerability commonly maps to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write within the CWE taxonomy, representing memory safety issues that allow attackers to manipulate program execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly across enterprise and individual user environments where affected Safari versions are deployed. Organizations relying on Apple Safari for web browsing face potential security breaches that could result in data exfiltration, system compromise, or service disruption. The vulnerability's remote exploitation nature means that users can be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios. Mobile device users are equally at risk since iOS Safari applications are affected by this same vulnerability, creating a broad attack surface across Apple's ecosystem. The timing of the vulnerability's disclosure and the subsequent release of patches means that organizations had to quickly assess their exposure and implement remediation measures to protect their users from potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and implementing proper security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of Apple's security patches for Safari 6.1.4 and 7.0.4, which address the underlying memory corruption issues. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing content security policies, and using web application firewalls to filter malicious content. Network-level protections can include implementing web filtering solutions that block known malicious domains and monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns. Security teams should also consider deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify potential exploitation attempts through anomalous memory usage patterns or process behavior. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that patches have been properly applied and that no residual vulnerabilities exist in the browser environment. The remediation process should also include user education to avoid visiting suspicious websites and to maintain awareness of social engineering tactics that might accompany such attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript and T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive measures across multiple attack phases.