CVE-2014-1326 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 • 02/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1326 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit's JavaScript engine that affected Apple Safari browsers across multiple versions. This vulnerability resides in the rendering engine that powers Safari's web browsing capabilities and specifically targets the JavaScriptCore JavaScript engine component. The flaw manifests when processing crafted web content that exploits memory management issues during JavaScript execution, creating opportunities for remote code execution or denial of service conditions. Security researchers identified this as a distinct vulnerability from other WebKit issues referenced in APPLE-SA-2014-05-21-1, indicating unique exploitation vectors and underlying technical characteristics.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper memory handling during JavaScript object manipulation and garbage collection processes within WebKit's JavaScript engine. Attackers can craft malicious web pages containing specially designed JavaScript code that triggers buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions when the browser attempts to process the content. These memory corruption issues occur at the intersection of JavaScript parsing and native code execution, where memory addresses become invalid or improperly managed during object lifecycle operations. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the victim to visit a malicious website, making it a classic remote code execution vector that leverages the browser's trust in web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-1326 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise when exploited successfully. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems with the privileges of the Safari process, potentially leading to complete system compromise depending on the execution environment. The memory corruption aspects create instability that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory regions, redirect program execution flow, or inject malicious payloads. This vulnerability affects not only individual user systems but also enterprise environments where Safari is the primary browser, making it particularly concerning for organizations with strict security requirements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-1326 focus primarily on immediate patch application and browser version updates as recommended by Apple's security advisories. Organizations should prioritize updating Safari to versions 6.1.4 or 7.0.4 and later, which contain the necessary code fixes for the memory corruption issues. Additional protective measures include implementing web content filtering solutions, enabling sandboxing features within Safari, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which describes improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript-based execution. Security teams should also consider implementing browser hardening configurations and maintaining comprehensive monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.