CVE-2014-8816 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
CoreGraphics in Apple OS X before 10.10 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted PDF document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8816 resides within Apple's CoreGraphics framework, a fundamental component of the operating system that handles graphics rendering and document processing. This flaw affects Apple OS X versions prior to 10.10, representing a critical security issue that could be exploited remotely through malicious PDF documents. The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks associated with complex graphics processing libraries that must handle untrusted input data from various sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption issues within CoreGraphics' PDF parsing capabilities. When a maliciously crafted PDF document is processed by the framework, it triggers improper memory handling that leads to buffer overflows or heap corruption. This memory corruption occurs during the parsing and rendering of specific PDF elements, particularly those involving graphics objects or embedded resources. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the PDF processing pipeline, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to end users and organizations relying on Apple operating systems. Attackers can leverage this flaw by delivering malicious PDF files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. Upon opening the crafted document, the targeted application crashes or becomes unstable, potentially allowing for remote code execution. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potential system compromise, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to user systems and execute malicious payloads.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the official Apple security updates that address the CoreGraphics memory corruption issues. System administrators should also consider implementing PDF content filtering and sandboxing measures to reduce attack surface, while network security teams should deploy intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malicious PDF traffic patterns. Regular security assessments and user awareness training regarding suspicious email attachments and web downloads remain essential defensive measures against this class of vulnerability.
This vulnerability type represents a common category of security flaws in graphics and document processing frameworks, where the complexity of parsing structured data combined with insufficient input validation creates opportunities for memory corruption attacks. The remediation approach emphasizes the importance of timely patch management and the need for robust security practices in handling untrusted data inputs across all system components.