CVE-2014-4404
Memory Safety in Apple Mac Os X ≤ 10.10.0
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
CVE-2014-4404 is a high-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked in the top 1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the IOHIDFamily component on Apple iOS versions prior to 8 and Apple TV versions prior to 7. The flaw, assigned CWE-787, is triggered when an application supplies specially crafted key-mapping properties, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution.
An attacker with the ability to run a malicious application on an affected device can exploit the issue to achieve arbitrary code execution in a privileged context. The attack requires local access and user interaction but needs no prior privileges on the system, corresponding to a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8.
Apple addressed the vulnerability through updates that bring iOS to version 8 and Apple TV to version 7, as noted in the vendor's security announcements and support documentation. No further mitigation details such as configuration changes or workarounds are specified in the available references.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2014-4331
Vulnerability Data
Heap-based buffer overflow in IOHIDFamily in Apple iOS before 8 and Apple TV before 7 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context via an application that provides crafted key-mapping properties.
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 10 February 2022
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Out-of-bounds writes that corrupt control flow or inject shellcode are rendered non-executable by the same memory protections.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Secure-development practices (static analysis, bounds checking, code review) are the primary means of preventing out-of-bounds writes.
Vulnerability scanning and recording can discover out-of-bounds write flaws so they can be remediated.
Patching or replacing vulnerable software directly eliminates known instances of this coding weakness.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Security testing in development and acceptance can detect and prevent out-of-bounds write defects.
Secure development life cycle mandates practices that prevent out-of-bounds writes.
Application security requirements can specify bounds-checking and safe memory handling.
Secure architecture and engineering principles reduce the likelihood of buffer overflows.
Secure coding directly addresses out-of-bounds writes through language choice and coding standards.
Change management can enforce review gates that catch unsafe memory operations before deployment.