CVE-2014-8819 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The Intel Graphics Driver in Apple OS X before 10.10.2 allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-8820 and CVE-2014-8821.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8819 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Intel Graphics Driver component of Apple's macOS operating system. This issue affects versions prior to macOS 10.10.2 and specifically targets the graphics driver subsystem that manages Intel graphics hardware integration. The vulnerability falls under the category of local privilege escalation attacks, where an attacker with limited user privileges can potentially elevate their access level to system administrator or root privileges. The flaw exists in the manner in which the graphics driver handles certain kernel-level operations and memory management functions, creating opportunities for malicious code execution with elevated privileges.
Technical analysis reveals that the vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the Intel Graphics Driver kernel extension. The driver's interaction with graphics hardware and kernel memory spaces creates potential attack vectors where malicious code can manipulate driver behavior to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level where the operating system's core security mechanisms are bypassed. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description likely involve race conditions, buffer overflows, or improper privilege checks within the graphics driver's kernel code that allow local attackers to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-8819 is significant for macOS environments, particularly in enterprise settings where multiple users may have access to systems running vulnerable versions of the operating system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain complete system control, install malware, modify system files, or establish persistent backdoors without requiring physical access or sophisticated attack infrastructure. The vulnerability affects systems where Intel graphics hardware is present, which includes the majority of macintosh computers from the early 2010s. Security researchers have classified this as a high-severity issue due to its potential for privilege escalation and the relative ease with which local attackers can exploit it.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-8819 focus primarily on updating to macOS 10.10.2 or later versions where Apple has implemented patches addressing the graphics driver vulnerability. System administrators should prioritize deployment of the official security updates provided by Apple, as these patches specifically address the kernel-level memory management issues within the Intel Graphics Driver. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized code, monitoring system logs for suspicious privilege escalation activities, and maintaining regular security audits of graphics driver configurations. The vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques, particularly those involving kernel exploits and driver-based attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The fix implemented by Apple addresses the underlying memory corruption issues in the graphics driver kernel extension, effectively closing the privilege escalation pathway that attackers could exploit to gain unauthorized system access.