CVE-2014-4473 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit, as used in Apple Safari before 6.2.1, 7.x before 7.1.1, and 8.x before 8.0.1, 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-2014-12-2-1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2022
CVE-2014-4473 represents a critical memory corruption vulnerability within WebKit engine that affected Apple Safari browser versions prior to specific patch releases. This vulnerability resides in the rendering engine that powers Safari and other web applications, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through malicious websites without requiring user interaction beyond visiting the compromised page. The flaw manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that occurs during web page rendering, specifically when processing certain HTML elements or JavaScript code that triggers improper memory management within the WebKit engine.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. Attackers can craft malicious web content that, when rendered by the vulnerable Safari versions, causes the browser to allocate memory incorrectly or access memory locations beyond allocated boundaries. This memory corruption leads to unpredictable behavior where the application may crash or potentially allow remote code execution. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the core rendering layer of the browser, making it difficult to detect through traditional security measures and allowing attackers to bypass many standard security mitigations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for users who browse the internet with affected Safari versions, as exploitation requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The impact ranges from denial of service through application crashes to full remote code execution, depending on the specific memory corruption pattern and exploitation techniques employed. Security researchers have documented this vulnerability as part of the broader WebKit exploitation landscape, where similar memory corruption issues have been leveraged for privilege escalation and persistent access to user systems. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Safari versions including 6.2.1, 7.x, and 8.x indicates a widespread exposure across Apple's browser ecosystem, affecting users who had not yet applied the necessary security patches.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate deployment of Apple's security updates, specifically versions 6.2.1, 7.1.1, and 8.0.1 which contain the necessary patches to address the memory corruption issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management policies that prioritize browser security updates, particularly for widely used applications like Safari. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains until patches are deployed. Additionally, user education regarding the importance of keeping browsers updated and avoiding suspicious websites forms a crucial component of defense-in-depth strategies. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and highlights the need for organizations to establish robust security update processes that can quickly respond to emerging threats in web-based attack vectors.