How to Fix CVE-2014-4404: IOHIDFamily heap overflow in iOS and Apple TV
| Severity | 7.8 (High) · CVSS 3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
|---|---|
| Actively exploited? | Yes, listed in CISA KEV (added 2022-02-10) |
| Affected | Apple iOS before 8; Apple TV before 7 (vulnerable component: IOHIDFamily) |
| Fixed in | iOS 8 and later; Apple TV 7 and later |
| Type (CWE) | CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write (heap buffer overflow → privileged code execution) |
Exploitation status
CVE-2014-4404 is actively exploited in the wild. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on as an Apple iOS memory-corruption flaw, which makes patching mandatory for U.S. federal agencies under Binding Operational Directive 22-01. Federal agencies were required to remediate it by . The CISA SSVC assessment in the record scores exploitation as “active” with total technical impact, so if you still run an affected iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Apple TV, treat this as an emergency change, not a scheduled one.
Public exploit availability: the CVE record does not link a standalone proof-of-concept in its primary references, but its place on the CISA KEV catalog plus the “active” exploitation flag confirm working attack code is in use against this IOHIDFamily bug. Treat weaponization as certain and patch on an emergency timeline.
Authoritative references:
WARNING: This vulnerability is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2022-02-10). Federal civilian agencies must remediate by 2022-08-10. Treat it as active exploitation, not theoretical.
What is CVE-2014-4404?
CVE-2014-4404 is a heap-based buffer overflow in IOHIDFamily, the Apple kernel driver that handles human-interface devices such as keyboards, touch input and game controllers. On Apple iOS before version 8 and Apple TV before version 7, an application can supply crafted key-mapping properties that overflow a heap buffer inside the driver. Because IOHIDFamily runs in the kernel, the overflow lets an attacker execute arbitrary code in a privileged context rather than inside the app sandbox.
In plain terms: this is a local privilege-escalation bug, not a remote one. The attacker first needs code running on the device, typically a malicious or trojanised app the victim installs and launches. That is why the CVSS 3.1 vector is AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H — local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges needed, but user interaction required (the victim runs the app). Once triggered, the impact is total: full read, full write and full control of the device, which is how a sandboxed app turns into a kernel-level compromise. The bug is classified as CWE-787, Out-of-bounds Write.
This matters because IOHIDFamily has been a recurring jailbreak and exploitation target. A kernel write primitive here is exactly what an exploit chain wants: defeat the sandbox, gain root, then load a persistent payload. CISA's placement of this CVE on the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog reflects that it was used in real attacks, not just demonstrated in a lab.
Am I affected?
You are affected if you run any of the following without the patch:
- iPhone, iPad or iPod touch on any iOS release earlier than iOS 8.
- Apple TV (2nd or 3rd generation) on software earlier than Apple TV 7.
This CVE does not affect Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, or any third-party package — despite older summaries that labelled it an “OS X” flaw. The vulnerable code is the IOHIDFamily kernel driver shipped inside iOS and Apple TV firmware. Check your build before assuming you are safe:
- iPhone / iPad / iPod touch: open Settings → General → About and read the Software Version field. Anything below 8.0 is vulnerable.
- Apple TV: open Settings → General → About and read the Apple TV Software version. Anything below 7.0 is vulnerable.
How to fix CVE-2014-4404
The fix is a single, vendor-supplied action: install the OS update that replaces the vulnerable IOHIDFamily driver. Apple shipped the fix in iOS 8 and Apple TV 7. There is no separate hotfix, no command-line patch, and nothing to compile — the firmware update is the patch. Any current iOS or tvOS release also contains it, so updating to the latest version your hardware supports is the right move.
iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
- Plug the device into power and connect to Wi-Fi.
- Back up first via Settings → [your name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup, or through Finder/iTunes on a computer.
- Go to Settings → General → Software Update.
- Install iOS 8 or later. On modern hardware, take the newest version offered.
- Let the device reboot. The update swaps out the vulnerable IOHIDFamily driver during installation.
Apple TV (2nd / 3rd generation)
- Go to Settings → General → Software Update (on later builds: Settings → System → Software Updates).
- Choose Update Software and install Apple TV 7 or later.
- Do not unplug the box while it reboots and applies the update.
Managed fleets (MDM)
If you run iPhones or iPads through a mobile device management platform such as Jamf Pro, Microsoft Intune or VMware Workspace ONE, push the OS update centrally rather than relying on users:
- Set a minimum-OS compliance policy that flags anything below the fixed version.
- Use the managed software-update command (
ScheduleOSUpdateon supervised devices) to force installation. - Block non-compliant devices from corporate Wi-Fi, mail and VPN until they report a patched build.
If you can't patch immediately
Because this bug needs a malicious app to run on the device, the practical mitigation is to deny that foothold until the update lands. None of these replace updating to iOS 8 / Apple TV 7.
- Install nothing new. The attack arrives through an app that supplies crafted key-mapping properties. Stop installing apps, especially anything from outside the App Store or via sideloading and enterprise/developer profiles.
- Remove untrusted apps and configuration profiles. Check Settings → General → Profiles (or VPN & Device Management) and delete any profile you do not recognise. Delete recently installed apps from unknown developers.
- Avoid jailbreaking. A jailbroken device removes the very sandbox that limits this bug and is a common delivery path for IOHIDFamily exploits.
- Retire unpatchable hardware from sensitive use. Devices too old to receive iOS 8 (or Apple TV 1st generation, which never got Apple TV 7) cannot be fixed. Move them off accounts that hold mail, banking or work data.
Verify the fix
After the update completes, confirm the device is no longer on a vulnerable build:
- On the device: Settings → General → About and read the Software Version (iOS) or Apple TV Software version.
- Confirm it reads 8.0 or higher for iOS, or 7.0 or higher for Apple TV.
- In an MDM console, confirm the device check-in reports the patched OS version and the compliance policy flips to green.
- Re-run any internal vulnerability scanner against the device and confirm CVE-2014-4404 no longer appears.
That version check is the whole verification. There is no service to restart and no library left loaded in memory, because the OS update reboots the device and loads the patched IOHIDFamily driver from firmware on boot.
References
- Apple advisory — iOS 8 security content (HT6441): http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6441
- Apple advisory — Apple TV 7 security content (HT6442): http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6442
- Apple support — HT6535: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT6535
- Apple support — HT204659: https://support.apple.com/HT204659
- Apple security announcement APPLE-SA-2014-09-17-1: http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/bugtraq/2014-09/0106.html
- NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-4404
- CISA KEV catalog: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
- SecurityTracker 1030866: http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1030866
- SecurityFocus BID 69947: http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/69947
More frequently asked questions
Can CVE-2014-4404 be exploited remotely or over the network?
No. The CVSS attack vector is local (AV:L) and requires user interaction. An attacker needs code already running on the device, normally through an app the victim installs and opens. There is no drive-by network path in the record. That does not make it minor: the SSVC rating is “active” exploitation with total technical impact, because the bug turns a sandboxed app into kernel-level control.
Why does an Apple TV update matter for a security bug?
Apple TV runs a variant of iOS and ships the same IOHIDFamily driver. The 2nd and 3rd generation boxes share the vulnerable code, so Apple fixed it in the Apple TV 7 software release. If you have an Apple TV on older software, update it the same way you update an iPhone.
I already updated to the latest iOS. Am I still exposed?
No. Every iOS release from 8.0 onward includes the patched IOHIDFamily driver, so any current iOS version is safe from this specific CVE. Keeping the device on the newest version your hardware supports is the right posture.
Do I need to do anything beyond installing the update?
No. The OS update replaces the vulnerable driver and reboots the device, which loads the fixed code from firmware. There is no service to restart, no library left in memory, and no configuration change to make. Just confirm the version under Settings → General → About afterward.
What is the real-world risk if I leave an old device unpatched?
A malicious app could escalate from the app sandbox to kernel privileges, then read your data, install persistent malware, or fully control the device. Because CISA lists it as actively exploited, the risk is not theoretical. Update, or retire the device from any account holding sensitive data.
Related fixes
Other flaws in this area worth reviewing while you patch this one:
- How to Fix CVE-2026-28995: Improper Privilege Management in iOS and iPadOS
- How to Fix CVE-2026-28974: Improper Access Control in iOS and iPadOS
- How to Fix CVE-2026-39869: Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
- How to Fix CVE-2025-43520: Denial of Service in Apple iOS and iPadOS
- How to Fix CVE-2023-42824: Denial of Service in Apple iOS and iPadOS
People also ask
Which Apple devices does CVE-2014-4404 affect?
iPhone, iPad and iPod touch running iOS before 8, and Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation) running software before Apple TV 7. The flaw is in IOHIDFamily, a kernel driver shared across those platforms. Mac OS X is not affected by this CVE.
How do I fix CVE-2014-4404?
Update the device. On iPhone, iPad or iPod touch go to Settings → General → Software Update and install iOS 8 or later. On Apple TV go to Settings → General → Software Update and install Apple TV 7 or later. The OS update replaces the vulnerable IOHIDFamily driver; there is no separate patch to install.
What is the CVSS score and vector for CVE-2014-4404?
CVSS 3.1 base score 7.8 (High), vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. A local attack requiring user interaction (the victim runs a malicious app) that yields full confidentiality, integrity and availability impact via privileged code execution.
Is CVE-2014-4404 actively exploited?
Yes. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-02-10, and the SSVC assessment marks exploitation as active. U.S. federal civilian agencies were required to remediate by 2022-08-10 under BOD 22-01.