CVE-2014-4427 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
App Sandbox in Apple OS X before 10.10 allows attackers to bypass a sandbox protection mechanism via the accessibility API.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4427 represents a critical sandbox bypass issue within Apple's operating system security framework affecting versions prior to macOS 10.10. This flaw specifically targets the App Sandbox protection mechanism, which is designed to isolate applications and limit their access to system resources and user data. The security model relies on strict containment policies that prevent applications from accessing files, network resources, or system functions without explicit permission. When compromised, this sandbox mechanism fails to properly enforce access controls, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent these protective boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the accessibility API, which provides assistive technologies with elevated privileges to interact with user interfaces and system components. This API is intentionally granted broad access rights to enable screen readers, voice control, and other accessibility features to function properly. However, the flaw allows attackers to leverage this legitimate access to gain unauthorized system privileges and bypass the sandbox restrictions that normally prevent applications from accessing sensitive data or executing privileged operations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of accessibility API calls and their potential to be abused for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple sandbox bypass, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by malware to gain elevated system access. Attackers can craft malicious applications that appear legitimate to users while exploiting the accessibility API to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges. This capability enables sophisticated attacks including data exfiltration, system compromise, and persistence mechanisms that are difficult to detect through traditional security measures. The vulnerability affects the core security architecture of macOS and undermines the fundamental security model that separates user applications from system resources.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it leverages legitimate system features to bypass security controls, making detection and prevention more challenging for security monitoring systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to macOS 10.10 or later, reviewing accessibility API usage policies, and implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious API calls. Additionally, security administrators should consider disabling unnecessary accessibility features for applications that do not require them, and deploy endpoint protection solutions with advanced threat detection capabilities to monitor for anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.