CVE-2014-4411 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit, as used in Apple iOS before 8 and Apple TV before 7, 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-2014-09-17-1 and APPLE-SA-2014-09-17-2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2022
CVE-2014-4411 represents a critical memory corruption vulnerability within WebKit engine that affected Apple iOS versions prior to 8.0 and Apple TV versions prior to 7.0. This vulnerability resides in the browser rendering engine that powers Safari and other web-based applications on Apple devices. The flaw manifests when WebKit processes maliciously crafted web content, leading to unpredictable memory state corruption that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates through standard web browsing channels without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-122, which specifically addresses buffer overflow conditions in memory management, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.003 for remote code execution through web-based attacks. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing or rendering of web content, potentially affecting JavaScript engines, HTML parsers, or CSS processors within the WebKit framework. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to include denial of service scenarios where applications crash unpredictably, disrupting user experience and potentially providing attackers with additional attack vectors. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that exploit this vulnerability by manipulating memory structures in ways that bypass standard security controls. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Apple platforms indicates a fundamental issue within WebKit's memory management systems that affects the core rendering engine. This flaw represents a significant risk to users who frequently browse the internet, as it can be exploited through standard web traffic without requiring any specialized tools or conditions. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution issue places it in the high-risk category, as it allows attackers to gain complete control over affected devices. Security researchers identified this issue through careful analysis of memory corruption patterns in WebKit's rendering processes, particularly focusing on how the engine handles malformed input data. The vulnerability's exploitation potential makes it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors seeking to compromise Apple device users. The fix for this vulnerability required comprehensive memory management updates within WebKit, including improved input validation and enhanced memory bounds checking mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize updating affected systems to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability remains active in older versions of Apple's operating systems. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping web browsers and their underlying engines updated, as even minor memory management flaws can provide complete system compromise. The technical nature of this vulnerability requires careful monitoring and patch management to ensure complete protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's impact on both iOS and Apple TV platforms highlights the widespread nature of the issue and the need for coordinated security updates across all affected Apple products. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader threat assessments for Apple device environments, particularly in enterprise settings where device security is paramount. The vulnerability's characteristics align with typical zero-day exploitation patterns, where attackers can leverage memory corruption flaws to gain unauthorized access to systems. This issue underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and the potential consequences of delaying software updates on mobile platforms. The remediation process for this vulnerability involved comprehensive code review and memory safety improvements within Apple's WebKit implementation, addressing fundamental issues in how the engine manages memory allocation and deallocation.