CVE-2014-4371 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The network-statistics interface in the kernel in Apple iOS before 8 and Apple TV before 7 does not properly initialize memory, which allows attackers to obtain sensitive memory-content and memory-layout information via a crafted application, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-4419, CVE-2014-4420, and CVE-2014-4421.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4371 represents a critical memory initialization flaw within the kernel-level network-statistics interface of Apple's iOS and Apple TV operating systems. This issue affects versions prior to iOS 8 and Apple TV software version 7, creating a significant security risk that stems from improper memory handling during kernel operations. The flaw specifically manifests in the network-statistics subsystem where kernel memory regions fail to be properly initialized before being accessed by user-space applications. This improper initialization creates predictable memory patterns and exposes kernel memory content that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted applications that can leverage the uninitialized memory regions to perform information disclosure attacks. When applications interact with the network-statistics interface, they can inadvertently trigger memory access patterns that reveal sensitive kernel data structures, memory layout information, and potentially confidential system internals. This memory disclosure capability allows attackers to gather intelligence about the kernel's memory organization, which can be instrumental in planning more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses typical user-space security boundaries and can provide attackers with insights into system architecture and internal kernel mechanisms.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for affected Apple devices as it enables attackers to obtain sensitive memory-content and memory-layout information that could be used for privilege escalation or further exploitation. The disclosed information may include kernel pointers, memory addresses, and internal data structures that can be leveraged to craft more effective attacks against the system. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-128, which deals with improper initialization of memory, indicates that the flaw involves a fundamental failure in memory management practices within the kernel. This type of information disclosure can significantly weaken the security posture of affected devices by providing attackers with the knowledge necessary to bypass security mechanisms.
The attack vector for CVE-2014-4371 requires a malicious application to be installed and executed on the target device, making it a user-interaction dependent vulnerability. However, the potential impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as the leaked memory information can be combined with other vulnerabilities to achieve more sophisticated exploitation techniques. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability operates in conjunction with other related issues such as CVE-2014-4419, CVE-2014-4420, and CVE-2014-4421, suggesting a broader pattern of memory management issues within Apple's kernel implementations. The vulnerability's presence in both iOS and Apple TV platforms demonstrates the widespread nature of the memory initialization problem across Apple's ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4371 primarily involve upgrading to patched versions of iOS and Apple TV software where Apple has addressed the memory initialization issues in the kernel's network-statistics interface. System administrators and users should prioritize applying the relevant security updates as soon as they become available, as the vulnerability provides attackers with information that can be used to enhance their exploitation capabilities. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring for suspicious application behavior that might attempt to exploit this vulnerability, though the specific attack patterns may be difficult to detect without specialized tools. The vulnerability's nature makes it particularly challenging to defend against through traditional network-based security measures, as the information disclosure occurs at the kernel level and within legitimate system operations. Apple's patching approach for this vulnerability would typically involve ensuring proper memory initialization before kernel interfaces are accessed, preventing the leakage of sensitive information through uninitialized memory regions.