CVE-2014-1391 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
QT Media Foundation in Apple OS X before 10.9.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted movie file with RLE encoding.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1391 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's QT Media Foundation component of macOS operating systems prior to version 10.9.5. This issue stems from improper handling of RLE (Run-Length Encoding) compressed data within movie files, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system through maliciously crafted media content. The vulnerability exists in the underlying multimedia framework that processes various video and audio formats, specifically when parsing RLE encoded data structures that are commonly found in QuickTime movie files.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the QT Media Foundation encounters a specially crafted movie file containing malformed RLE encoding sequences. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption condition that can lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes, system instability, or potentially arbitrary code execution within the context of the affected application. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations that can result in memory corruption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the media processing layer where applications frequently handle untrusted input from network sources, making it an attractive target for remote exploitation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to macOS users as it can be triggered through legitimate media playback scenarios without requiring user interaction beyond opening a malicious file. Attackers can deliver the exploit through various vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or network shares, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter compromised media content. The memory corruption can cause applications to crash or behave unpredictably, potentially leading to denial of service conditions that disrupt normal business operations. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for application execution and T1489 for denial of service, as the exploitation can result in both arbitrary code execution and system disruption.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2014-1391 involves immediate patching of affected macOS systems to version 10.9.5 or later, which includes fixed QT Media Foundation components that properly validate RLE encoding data structures. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all endpoints receive the security update promptly. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing content filtering measures to block suspicious media files, particularly those from untrusted sources, as a defensive measure while waiting for patch deployment. Organizations should also monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis, as the vulnerability can be detected through unusual application behavior patterns or memory access violations that occur during media file processing. The fix implemented by Apple addresses the root cause by adding proper bounds checking and input validation to the RLE decoding routines within the QT Media Foundation framework, preventing the memory corruption that previously enabled exploitation.