CVE-2014-1314 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
WindowServer in Apple OS X through 10.9.2 does not prevent session creation by a sandboxed application, which allows attackers to bypass the sandbox protection mechanism and execute arbitrary code via a crafted application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1314 represents a critical sandbox escape flaw within Apple's WindowServer component of macOS operating systems through version 10.9.2. This issue fundamentally undermines the security architecture designed to isolate applications and prevent unauthorized system access. The WindowServer process serves as the core graphical subsystem responsible for managing window operations, user interface elements, and system display functions across the operating system. When an application attempts to establish a session through this component, the system fails to properly validate or restrict such requests from sandboxed applications, creating an unintended pathway for privilege escalation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access control mechanisms within the WindowServer subsystem. Specifically, the sandbox protection framework designed to limit application capabilities and prevent unauthorized system interactions is bypassed when a sandboxed application attempts to create or manipulate sessions through WindowServer. This flaw operates at the kernel level where session management interfaces are improperly secured, allowing malicious applications to leverage legitimate session creation mechanisms to gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability manifests when a crafted application successfully exploits the session creation process to execute code outside the intended sandbox boundaries, effectively neutralizing the security controls that separate user applications from critical system resources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to macOS environments as it enables attackers to bypass fundamental security protections without requiring additional exploitation techniques. The attack vector requires only a sandboxed application to be executed, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may inadvertently run malicious software. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows for arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges, potentially enabling full system compromise. Security researchers have classified this as a sandbox escape vulnerability, which directly impacts the core security model of macOS and undermines user trust in the operating system's protection mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential data exfiltration, system monitoring, and persistent access capabilities.
Organizations and users must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability through proper system updates and security configuration. Apple released patches for macOS 10.9.3 and subsequent versions that corrected the session creation validation logic within WindowServer. Security administrators should prioritize deployment of these updates across all affected systems while monitoring for potential exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, monitoring for unusual session creation patterns, and maintaining comprehensive system logging for forensic analysis. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-254, which addresses security weaknesses in sandboxing mechanisms, and demonstrates techniques that map to ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and defense evasion. The flaw underscores the importance of maintaining robust session management controls and proper access validation within core operating system components. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and maintain regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components.