CVE-2014-1373 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Intel Graphics Driver in Apple OS X before 10.9.4 does not properly restrict an unspecified OpenGL API call, which allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1373 represents a critical security flaw within the Intel Graphics Driver component of Apple's macOS operating system. This issue affects versions prior to macOS 10.9.4 and stems from improper restrictions on an unspecified OpenGL API call that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary code through carefully crafted applications. The vulnerability resides in the graphics driver's handling of OpenGL operations, specifically within the Intel graphics subsystem that powers graphical rendering capabilities on Apple hardware. This flaw demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation and privilege escalation within graphics processing components that form part of the operating system's core functionality.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a failure in the graphics driver's API call restrictions mechanism, where an unspecified OpenGL function does not properly validate or constrain input parameters. This allows attackers to manipulate the graphics processing unit through crafted applications that exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized code execution privileges. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in memory access, and CWE-248, which covers improper exception handling. The root cause lies in inadequate bounds checking and parameter validation within the graphics driver's OpenGL implementation, creating an entry point for privilege escalation attacks that can potentially compromise the entire system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to macOS users and organizations relying on Apple's ecosystem. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise without requiring user interaction beyond launching the malicious application. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates within the graphics processing context, which often runs with elevated privileges to ensure proper hardware functionality. This vulnerability can be exploited in scenarios involving social engineering attacks where users might be tricked into executing malicious applications that appear legitimate, making it a serious threat to enterprise security and user data protection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-1373 primarily focus on updating to macOS 10.9.4 or later versions where Intel has addressed the graphics driver restrictions issue. System administrators should prioritize immediate deployment of the security update provided by Apple to close this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unsigned or untrusted applications that might exploit graphics driver vulnerabilities. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual graphics processing activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include regular security assessments of graphics driver components and implementation of the principle of least privilege for graphics processing operations. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches for graphics drivers and operating system components, as these elements often serve as attack surfaces for sophisticated exploitation techniques that can bypass traditional security controls.