CVE-2014-4486 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
IOAcceleratorFamily in Apple iOS before 8.1.3, Apple OS X before 10.10.2, and Apple TV before 7.0.3 does not properly handle resource lists and IOService userclient types, which allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4486 resides within the IOAcceleratorFamily component of Apple's operating systems, affecting iOS versions prior to 8.1.3, OS X versions prior to 10.10.2, and Apple TV versions prior to 7.0.3. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the kernel-level graphics acceleration subsystem that handles hardware acceleration for multimedia processing and graphics operations. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the improper handling of resource lists and IOService userclient types, which are fundamental components in macOS and iOS kernel programming for managing hardware resources and providing user-space applications with controlled access to kernel services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the IOAcceleratorFamily kernel extension. When a malicious application attempts to interact with the graphics acceleration services through improper resource list structures or malformed IOService userclient type specifications, the kernel fails to properly validate these inputs before processing them. This leads to a NULL pointer dereference condition where the kernel attempts to access memory at address zero, causing an immediate system crash or potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. The flaw operates at the intersection of multiple security domains including kernel memory management, privilege escalation, and resource allocation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring physical access or user interaction beyond installing a malicious application.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4486 extends beyond simple system crashes, as it represents a potential pathway for privilege escalation attacks that could allow malicious actors to gain root-level access to affected systems. Attackers can craft specially designed applications that manipulate the IOAcceleratorFamily to trigger the NULL pointer dereference, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation'. The vulnerability affects a core component of Apple's graphics stack that is utilized by numerous system applications and third-party software, making the attack surface particularly broad. Systems running affected versions are vulnerable to both remote code execution and denial of service attacks, with the latter potentially being used for persistent system disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4486 primarily focus on immediate system updates to the patched versions of Apple's operating systems. Users should immediately install iOS 8.1.3, OS X 10.10.2, or Apple TV 7.0.3 updates which contain the necessary kernel patches to address the resource list and IOService userclient type handling issues. Additionally, system administrators should implement application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications that might exploit this vulnerability. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual kernel activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of kernel-level input validation and proper memory management practices, reinforcing the need for comprehensive security testing of core operating system components. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, as this vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access to compromised systems through elevated privileges.