CVE-2014-8821

Vulnerability

The Intel Graphics Driver in Apple OS X Yosemite before version 10.10.2 contains a vulnerability that allows local users to gain elevated privileges via unspecified vectors. This issue is distinct from related flaws CVE-2014-8819 and CVE-2014-8820. The affected versions include OS X Yosemite 10.10 and 10.10.1 [1].

Exploitation

An attacker requires local access to the system to exploit this vulnerability. The exact exploitation steps are not publicly detailed by Apple, but the attack vector involves unspecified manipulation of the Intel Graphics Driver, likely requiring the attacker to execute code with user-level privileges to trigger the privilege escalation [1].

Impact

Successful exploitation allows a local attacker to gain elevated privileges, leading to full system compromise. The attacker can execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, bypassing user-level restrictions, and potentially access sensitive data or install persistent malware [1].

Mitigation

Apple released the fix in OS X Yosemite 10.10.2 on January 27, 2015. Users should update to OS X Yosemite 10.10.2 or later via the Mac App Store. No workaround was provided for this issue [1]. The vulnerability is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.