CVE-2014-4485 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the XML parser in Foundation in Apple iOS before 8.1.3, Apple OS X before 10.10.2, and Apple TV before 7.0.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted XML document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4485 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the XML parsing functionality of Apple's Foundation framework across multiple operating systems including iOS versions prior to 8.1.3, macOS versions before 10.10.2, and Apple TV software before 7.0.3. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. The affected Foundation framework serves as a core component in Apple's operating systems, providing essential APIs for data handling including XML processing capabilities that are widely utilized by applications and system services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the XML parser processes malformed or specially crafted XML documents that contain excessive data within certain elements or attributes. When the parser attempts to store this data in pre-allocated buffers without proper validation of input size, it overflows the designated memory space and potentially corrupts adjacent memory regions. This overflow can be exploited by remote attackers who craft malicious XML content designed to trigger the buffer overflow condition during parsing operations. The vulnerability manifests through the parser's inadequate handling of XML structures that exceed expected buffer capacities, particularly in how it processes nested elements or large attribute values.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4485 extends beyond simple application crashes to encompass full remote code execution capabilities that could be leveraged by malicious actors. Attackers can potentially inject and execute arbitrary code on affected systems with the privileges of the vulnerable application, which may include system-level access depending on the context in which the XML parser is invoked. The vulnerability affects both user-facing applications and system-level services that utilize Foundation's XML parsing capabilities, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where XML processing is common in web services, configuration files, or data exchange protocols. Additionally, the vulnerability could be exploited in various attack scenarios including email attachments, web content, or file downloads that contain malicious XML content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions of Apple's operating systems. Organizations should prioritize updating iOS devices to version 8.1.3 or later, macOS to version 10.10.2 or later, and Apple TV to version 7.0.3 or later. System administrators should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual XML processing patterns or malformed content. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities for remote code execution, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage in attack chains. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict XML processing to trusted sources and establish robust input validation procedures for all XML content processing within their environments.