CVE-2014-4979 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Apple QuickTime allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a malformed version number and flags in an mvhd atom.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4979 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple QuickTime media player software that enables remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution or system denial of service. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of malformed data within the mvhd atom structure, which is a fundamental component of QuickTime movie files that contains essential movie header information including version numbers and flags. The flaw exists in how QuickTime processes and validates these specific header fields during file parsing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the QuickTime parser. When the software encounters a specially crafted movie file containing malformed version numbers and flags within the mvhd atom, the parser fails to properly sanitize or validate these inputs before processing them in memory. This insufficient validation leads to memory corruption conditions that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations or manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability falls under the category of buffer overflows and memory corruption issues, with direct implications for software security and system stability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users who may inadvertently encounter maliciously crafted QuickTime files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to target systems, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently access untrusted content. The potential for arbitrary code execution allows attackers to install malware, establish backdoors, or completely compromise affected systems, while the denial of service component can disrupt legitimate business operations through system crashes or application hangs.
The impact of CVE-2014-4979 aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack mitigation framework, particularly those targeting multimedia processing components where input validation failures create exploitable conditions. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper software input sanitization and memory management practices, especially for applications that process untrusted binary data. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation, content filtering, and user education programs to reduce exposure to such attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the necessity of regular software updates and patch management processes to address known security flaws before they can be exploited by malicious actors.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how multimedia processing libraries can become attack surfaces when proper input validation is absent. The flaw's classification aligns with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are common in memory corruption vulnerabilities. Organizations should prioritize patching affected QuickTime installations and consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting, sandboxing, and network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for multimedia applications that handle untrusted content.