CVE-2014-1364 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-2014-1364 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit, the web browser engine that powers Apple's Safari browser and iOS web rendering capabilities. This vulnerability affects multiple Apple products including iOS versions before 7.1.2, Safari versions before 6.1.5 and 7.x before 7.0.5, and Apple TV before 6.1.2, creating a widespread attack surface across Apple's ecosystem. The flaw enables remote code execution through maliciously crafted websites, making it particularly dangerous as users can be compromised simply by visiting compromised web pages without any additional interaction required from the victim.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within WebKit's JavaScript engine, specifically in how it processes certain web content structures. This memory corruption occurs when the browser encounters specially crafted web pages that exploit buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions in the rendering engine's memory management systems. The flaw falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious code into the browser process, potentially gaining full control over the affected device.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-1364 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code remotely. This means that compromised devices could be used for various malicious activities including data theft, surveillance, or as part of botnet operations. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for persistence and privilege escalation. The memory corruption can also lead to application crashes and system instability, creating a denial of service condition that affects user productivity and system reliability.
Organizations and individual users should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched versions of affected software, which Apple released as part of their regular security updates. The patch addresses the underlying memory corruption issue by implementing proper bounds checking and memory management practices within WebKit's rendering engine. System administrators should also consider implementing web filtering solutions and monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should avoid visiting untrusted websites and maintain awareness of the security risks associated with browsing the internet on outdated software versions. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of keeping software up-to-date and the critical role that browser engine security plays in overall system protection.