CVE-2014-1367 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
This vulnerability resides within the WebKit rendering engine that powers Apple's Safari browser and iOS web applications, representing a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution. The issue affects multiple Apple platforms 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, demonstrating the widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from improper memory handling when processing crafted web content, creating conditions where malicious actors can manipulate memory structures to execute arbitrary code or force application crashes. This flaw operates through a sophisticated attack vector that leverages browser rendering processes to exploit memory management weaknesses, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered simply by visiting a malicious website without any user interaction beyond normal browsing.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are common in memory corruption vulnerabilities. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform remote code execution through web-based attacks, representing a significant threat to user security and privacy. The flaw allows adversaries to bypass standard security controls and execute malicious code directly on affected devices, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The memory corruption aspect means that attackers can manipulate heap or stack memory locations to redirect program execution flow, creating opportunities for privilege escalation and persistent malware installation. This vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw places it within the ATT&CK framework under T1059.004 for command and script interpreter, specifically web shell execution, and T1203 for exploitation for client execution, highlighting its potential for establishing persistent access to compromised systems.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to user data, install malicious software, and potentially establish backdoors for continued access. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that trigger the memory corruption when rendered by the vulnerable WebKit engine, making the attack surface extremely broad given the widespread use of these affected Apple products. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised websites. Organizations and users must understand that this flaw represents a critical security gap that can be exploited by threat actors to compromise entire device ecosystems, particularly given the trust users place in web browsing activities. The remediation approach requires immediate patching of affected systems, with Apple releasing updates that address the underlying memory management issues in their WebKit implementations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate system updates and patch management, as well as network-level protections such as web filtering and intrusion detection systems. Security teams should implement monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and consider implementing sandboxing measures to limit the impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability's nature suggests that attackers may use techniques such as heap spraying or return-oriented programming to achieve code execution, making advanced threat hunting and memory analysis capabilities valuable defensive measures. Organizations should also consider implementing browser hardening configurations and restricting access to untrusted websites until systems are properly patched. Given the vulnerability's potential for privilege escalation and persistent access, incident response procedures should include comprehensive forensic analysis to detect any compromise indicators that might have resulted from exploitation attempts.