CVE-2014-1295 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
Secure Transport in Apple iOS before 7.1.1, Apple OS X 10.8.x and 10.9.x through 10.9.2, and Apple TV before 6.1.1 does not ensure that a server's X.509 certificate is the same during renegotiation as it was before renegotiation, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to obtain sensitive information or modify TLS session data via a "triple handshake attack."
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-1295 represents a critical flaw in Apple's Secure Transport implementation that affects multiple operating systems including iOS versions prior to 7.1.1, OS X versions 10.8.x and 10.9.x through 10.9.2, and Apple TV versions before 6.1.1. This security weakness stems from insufficient validation of X.509 certificates during TLS renegotiation processes, creating a window of opportunity for sophisticated attackers to exploit the protocol's trust mechanisms. The flaw specifically targets the certificate validation logic that should ensure certificate consistency throughout the TLS session lifecycle, particularly during renegotiation phases where security contexts may be altered.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability enables what security researchers classify as a "triple handshake attack" that operates through the manipulation of TLS renegotiation parameters. During normal TLS operations, when a session is renegotiated, the system should verify that the server's certificate remains consistent with the original certificate presented during the initial handshake. However, Apple's Secure Transport implementation failed to enforce this critical validation check, allowing attackers to present different certificates during renegotiation without detection. This inconsistency creates a man-in-the-middle scenario where an attacker can intercept and modify TLS session data while maintaining the appearance of a legitimate connection. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate validation process during renegotiation, making it particularly dangerous because it exploits the trust relationship that users and applications expect to maintain throughout TLS sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass potential full session compromise and data manipulation capabilities. Attackers leveraging this flaw can successfully perform man-in-the-middle attacks against secure communications, potentially gaining access to sensitive information including login credentials, personal data, and confidential business communications. The vulnerability affects all applications and services that rely on Apple's Secure Transport for TLS connections, including web browsers, email clients, and various network services that implement Apple's cryptographic libraries. This widespread impact across multiple platforms and applications makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where Apple devices are prevalent and where the compromise of a single device can potentially affect broader network security. The triple handshake attack mechanism allows for sophisticated attack scenarios where the attacker can manipulate session parameters while maintaining the illusion of secure communication, potentially leading to complete session hijacking and data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to the patched versions of affected operating systems, specifically iOS 7.1.1, OS X 10.9.3, and Apple TV 6.1.1, which contain the necessary Secure Transport fixes. Organizations should also implement additional network monitoring to detect potential TLS renegotiation anomalies and consider deploying certificate pinning mechanisms where appropriate to provide additional layers of protection beyond the standard certificate validation. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any applications or services that may be vulnerable to this attack vector and ensure that all Apple devices within their environment are promptly updated. The mitigation approach aligns with industry standards such as those recommended by the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) category 310 for cryptographic weaknesses and the ATT&CK framework's techniques for credential access and defense evasion. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and additional security controls to minimize the potential impact if an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, as the flaw essentially allows for the compromise of TLS session integrity through manipulation of certificate validation during renegotiation processes.