CVE-2014-4413 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-2014-4413 represents a critical memory corruption vulnerability within WebKit's JavaScript engine that affected Apple's mobile operating systems and Apple TV devices. This vulnerability resides in the way WebKit processes certain JavaScript code, specifically in the handling of complex object manipulation and memory allocation patterns. The flaw manifests when a malicious website constructs specially crafted JavaScript code that exploits memory management inconsistencies in the JavaScriptCore engine, which is the underlying JavaScript engine used by WebKit. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely through web content, bypassing traditional security boundaries that protect user systems from malicious web interactions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully constructed web page that triggers specific memory corruption conditions in the JavaScript engine's memory management subsystem. When the affected WebKit-based browser processes such malicious code, it can cause heap corruption, stack overflow, or other memory inconsistency issues that lead to unpredictable behavior. The attacker can leverage this to either gain remote code execution capabilities or force the application to crash, resulting in a denial of service condition. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, though the actual mechanism involves more complex memory corruption patterns typical of heap-based vulnerabilities. The exploit requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4413 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise on affected devices. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the compromised browser process, which typically runs with limited user permissions but can still provide a foothold for further attacks. The vulnerability affects not just mobile devices but also Apple TV systems, expanding the attack surface significantly. This represents a critical threat vector for targeted attacks against mobile users, as the exploit can be delivered through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special tools or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious site. The vulnerability's impact is consistent with ATT&CK technique T1211 which describes exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and code execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4413 primarily focus on immediate patching and system updates from Apple. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected iOS devices to version 8.0 or later, and Apple TV systems to version 7.0 or later, as these releases contain the necessary security fixes. Network administrators should implement web content filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains and monitor for suspicious web traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Browser security configurations should be hardened by disabling unnecessary JavaScript features and implementing strict content security policies. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and should be cautious when encountering unexpected pop-ups or redirects. The vulnerability's nature makes it particularly suitable for zero-day exploitation, so organizations should maintain active threat intelligence feeds to monitor for related attack patterns and consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts.