CVE-2014-4420

Vulnerability

The network-statistics interface in the kernel on devices running Apple iOS prior to 8 and Apple TV prior to 7 does not properly initialize memory. This allows a crafted application to read uninitialized memory regions, leaking potentially sensitive data. The affected versions include all iOS releases before iOS 8 and all Apple TV software before version 7 [1][4].

Exploitation

An attacker must have the ability to run a crafted application on the target device. No special network position or authentication is required beyond the ability to execute user-level code. The exploit involves triggering the network-statistics interface to expose uninitialized memory contents. Because the vulnerability is accessible from user space, a malicious app can directly call the interface [1][4].

Impact

Successful exploitation allows the attacker to obtain sensitive memory contents, including potentially cryptographic keys, passwords, or other confidential data, as well as memory-layout information that could assist in further attacks. The disclosure is limited to information present in uninitialized kernel memory, but the scope includes any data that was left in that memory region by prior processes [1][4].

Mitigation

Apple addressed this vulnerability in iOS 8, released on September 17, 2014, and in Apple TV 7, released on September 17, 2014. Users should update their devices to iOS 8 or later and Apple TV 7 or later. No workarounds are available for earlier versions [1][4].