CVE-2014-4404
CVE-2014-4404 is a security flaw in Apple OS X, the operating system on Macs. Attackers can run their own code on Apple OS X. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 10 Feb 2022.[1]
Apple OS X is in things households have, such as phones, computers, browsers and everyday apps, so the fix matters at home as much as at work. Apple has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a heap-based buffer overflow in Apple OS X. In its words: “Heap-based buffer overflow in IOHIDFamily in Apple OS X, which affects, iOS before 8 and Apple TV before 7, allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “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.”[2]
The underlying weakness is memory buffer error (CWE-119), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 7.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; Apple’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Apple OS X.
Every device with Apple OS X needs the update.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 10 Feb 2022, 2,702 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 10 Aug 2022 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 49%. That’s in the top 2% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Apple has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Update Apple OS X now.On iPhone and iPad: Settings, General, Software Update. On a Mac: System Settings, General, Software Update. Install it on every Apple device in the house. Then turn on automatic updates, so the next fix arrives on its own.
- If there’s no update, stop using it.CISA’s advice when a flaw being used in attacks has no fix is to stop using the product until it does.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 49%.[4] |
See also
Other Apple OS X flaws
- CVE-2015-1130: authentication bypass ·
Other Apple flaws
- CVE-2026-86950, Apple devices: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2026-65400, Apple macOS: improper authentication ·
- CVE-2025-43520, Apple devices: classic buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2025-43510, Apple devices: improper locking ·
- CVE-2025-31277, Apple devices: buffer overflow ·
Other memory buffer error flaws
- CVE-2026-88779, Citrix NetScaler: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2026-88772, Citrix NetScaler: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2026-88771, Citrix NetScaler: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2026-8452, Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2009-3459, Adobe Acrobat and Reader: heap-based buffer overflow ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2021-36934, Microsoft Windows: SAM local privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2020-0796, Microsoft SMBv3: remote code execution ·
- CVE-2018-1000861, Jenkins Stapler Web Framework: stapler web framework deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2017-9791, Apache Struts 1: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2017-8464, Microsoft Windows: shell (.lnk) remote code execution ·
Every Apple flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in February 2022
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Apple OS X Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 10 Feb 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2014-4404 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 18 Sep 2014.
- ^ Apple. Advisories and fixes: support.apple.com, support.apple.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.489, percentile 98.9, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2014-4404”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.