CVE-2024-23276 – This CVE describes a privilege escalation vulne... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-23276?

CVE-2024-23276 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). This CVE describes a privilege escalation vulnerability in macOS where a malicious application could exploit a logic issue to gain elevated system privileges. It affects macOS Monterey, Ventura, and Sonoma before specific patch versions. Users running unpatched macOS systems are vulnerable to local privilege escalation attacks.

📋 TL;DR

This CVE describes a privilege escalation vulnerability in macOS where a malicious application could exploit a logic issue to gain elevated system privileges. It affects macOS Monterey, Ventura, and Sonoma before specific patch versions. Users running unpatched macOS systems are vulnerable to local privilege escalation attacks.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

macOS

Versions: Affected version range

Operating Systems: macOS Monterey before 12.7.4, macOS Ventura before 13.6.5, macOS Sonoma before 14.4

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: All standard macOS installations running affected versions are vulnerable. No special configuration required for exploitation.

📦 What is this software?

Macos by Apple

macOS is Apple's desktop and laptop operating system powering Mac computers used by millions of professionals, developers, creative professionals, and enterprise users worldwide. Built on a Unix foundation with the Darwin kernel and modern Cocoa frameworks, macOS delivers a seamless ecosystem integr...

Learn more about Macos →

Macos by Apple

macOS is Apple's desktop and laptop operating system powering Mac computers used by millions of professionals, developers, creative professionals, and enterprise users worldwide. Built on a Unix foundation with the Darwin kernel and modern Cocoa frameworks, macOS delivers a seamless ecosystem integr...

Learn more about Macos →

Macos by Apple

macOS is Apple's desktop and laptop operating system powering Mac computers used by millions of professionals, developers, creative professionals, and enterprise users worldwide. Built on a Unix foundation with the Darwin kernel and modern Cocoa frameworks, macOS delivers a seamless ecosystem integr...

Learn more about Macos →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

A malicious application could gain root privileges, allowing complete system compromise, data theft, persistence mechanisms, and disabling of security controls.

🟠

Likely Case

Malware or compromised applications could elevate privileges to bypass sandbox restrictions, access protected system resources, or install additional malicious components.

🟢

If Mitigated

With proper application vetting, least privilege principles, and endpoint protection, the attack surface is reduced, though the vulnerability still exists in unpatched systems.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW with brief explanation

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM with brief explanation

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Exploitation requires a malicious application to be executed on the target system. The vulnerability is a logic issue requiring specific conditions to trigger privilege escalation.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Version that fixes this

Vendor Advisory: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT214083

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

Step-by-step patching instructions

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Application Restriction

macos

Restrict installation and execution of untrusted applications through macOS security settings and application allowlisting.

sudo spctl --master-enable
sudo spctl --enable --label "Developer ID"

Privilege Reduction

all

Run with standard user accounts instead of administrative accounts to limit the impact of successful exploitation.

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict application control policies to prevent execution of untrusted applications
Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for privilege escalation attempts

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check macOS version in System Settings > General > About, or run 'sw_vers' in terminal. If version is Monterey < 12.7.4, Ventura < 13.6.5, or Sonoma < 14.4, the system is vulnerable.

Check Version:

sw_vers

Verify Fix Applied:

After updating, verify the macOS version meets or exceeds the patched versions: Monterey 12.7.4+, Ventura 13.6.5+, or Sonoma 14.4+.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unexpected privilege escalation events in system logs
Applications requesting elevated privileges without user interaction
Unusual process creation with elevated privileges

Network Indicators:

Outbound connections from system processes that don't normally network
Command and control traffic from privileged processes

SIEM Query:

Example SIEM/detection query if applicable

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-23276

CVSS v3 Score: 7.8 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-269

Published: March 8, 2024

Last Updated: November 4, 2025

🔗 References

http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Mar/21 Mailing List
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Mar/22 Mailing List
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Mar/23 Mailing List
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT214083 Vendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT214084 Vendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT214085 Vendor Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Mar/21 Mailing List
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Mar/22 Mailing List
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Mar/23 Mailing List
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT214083 Vendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT214084 Vendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT214085 Vendor Advisory
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT214083
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT214084
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT214085

📤 Share & Export

📄 Export Markdown 📋 Export JSON

🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

If you're affected by CVE-2024-23276, you might also want to check these: