CVE-2014-1325 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit, as used in Apple iOS before 7.1.2, Apple Safari before 6.1.5 and 7.x before 7.0.5, and Apple TV before 6.1.2, 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-2014-06-30-1, APPLE-SA-2014-06-30-3, and APPLE-SA-2014-06-30-4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1325 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit, the rendering engine that powers Apple's Safari browser and iOS web applications. This vulnerability affects multiple Apple products including iOS versions prior to 7.1.2, Safari versions before 6.1.5 and 7.x before 7.0.5, and Apple TV before 6.1.2. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted websites, making it a significant threat to user security and system stability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within WebKit's JavaScript engine, specifically in how it handles certain object allocations and memory deallocations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting web pages that trigger specific memory corruption patterns, leading to unpredictable behavior including code execution at the privilege level of the affected application. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-122 category of "Heap-based Buffer Overflow" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" as it leverages JavaScript execution to deliver malicious payloads.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-1325 extends beyond simple application crashes, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise. When memory corruption occurs, attackers can potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, which in the case of web browsers typically means the attacker can access user data, cookies, and potentially escalate privileges to system level access. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns and drive-by attack scenarios. This weakness is especially concerning given that WebKit serves as the foundation for web content rendering across Apple's ecosystem, affecting millions of users simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to the patched versions of affected software releases. Apple released security updates addressing this issue in iOS 7.1.2, Safari 6.1.5 and 7.0.5, and Apple TV 6.1.2, which include memory management improvements and additional input validation. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all affected devices receive these security updates. Additional protective measures include enabling sandboxing features, using security software that can detect and block malicious web content, and implementing network-based security controls that can identify and block traffic patterns associated with known exploit delivery methods. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual memory allocation patterns and potential exploitation attempts targeting WebKit components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the need for comprehensive browser security architectures that include multiple layers of protection against memory corruption attacks.