CVE-2014-1322 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
The kernel in Apple OS X through 10.9.2 places a kernel pointer into an XNU object data structure accessible from user space, which makes it easier for local users to bypass the ASLR protection mechanism by reading an unspecified attribute of the object.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-1322 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Apple OS X kernel implementation that directly undermines fundamental security protections. This issue affects Apple operating systems through version 10.9.2 and stems from improper kernel memory management practices where kernel pointers are exposed to user-space applications through XNU object data structures. The XNU kernel, which serves as the core operating system component in Apple's macOS, is responsible for managing system resources and enforcing security policies. When kernel pointers are inadvertently placed within user-accessible data structures, they create a direct pathway for malicious actors to extract sensitive memory addresses that would otherwise remain protected.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of XNU object attributes that are accessible from user space, allowing local attackers to read unspecified attributes of these objects. This design flaw creates a situation where the kernel's memory layout information becomes accessible to unprivileged processes, effectively enabling attackers to discover the base addresses of kernel memory regions. The mechanism relies on the fact that user-space applications can access certain object metadata that contains kernel pointer values, which are typically protected from direct user access. This exposure of kernel memory addresses constitutes a significant bypass of the Address Space Layout Randomization protection, a crucial defense mechanism designed to randomize memory layout to prevent exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-1322 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally weakens the security model of the operating system by providing attackers with critical information needed for advanced exploitation techniques. The bypass of ASLR protection means that attackers can more easily perform return-oriented programming attacks, heap spraying, and other exploitation methods that rely on knowing the memory layout of the kernel. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no network access or special privileges beyond local execution, making it an attractive target for attackers who wish to escalate privileges or gain deeper system access. The flaw essentially provides a backdoor for local users to gather kernel memory layout information, which can then be used to circumvent multiple security mitigations and enable more sophisticated attacks.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes information exposure, and represents a classic example of improper information hiding within kernel space. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics. Organizations affected by this vulnerability face significant risk as local attackers can leverage this information disclosure to perform more sophisticated attacks, potentially leading to full system compromise. The remediation strategy requires Apple to implement proper kernel memory management practices that prevent kernel pointers from being exposed in user-accessible data structures, which typically involves modifying the XNU kernel object implementation to ensure that sensitive kernel memory addresses remain protected from user-space access. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining proper kernel-user space boundaries and the severe consequences that can result from inadequate memory protection mechanisms in operating system kernels.