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CVE-2024-44260

4.4 MEDIUM

📋 TL;DR

A macOS vulnerability allows malicious applications with root privileges to modify system files. This affects macOS Ventura and Sonoma systems before specific patch versions. The issue was resolved by removing the vulnerable code.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:
  • macOS
Versions: macOS Ventura before 13.7.1, macOS Sonoma before 14.7.1
Operating Systems: macOS
Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes
Notes: Requires malicious application with root privileges; standard user accounts cannot exploit this vulnerability.

📦 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 →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Complete system compromise through modification of critical system files, potentially leading to persistent malware installation, data theft, or system instability.

🟠

Likely Case

Privileged malware could modify system configurations, install backdoors, or disable security controls while maintaining root access.

🟢

If Mitigated

With proper application sandboxing and privilege separation, impact is limited as root access is required for exploitation.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - Requires local execution with root privileges, not directly exploitable over network.
🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Internal threats with root access could exploit this, but requires elevated privileges.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No
Weaponized: UNKNOWN
Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No
Complexity: MEDIUM

Exploitation requires root privileges and a malicious application, making it less accessible to typical attackers.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: macOS Ventura 13.7.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1

Vendor Advisory: https://support.apple.com/en-us/121568

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Open System Settings 2. Click General 3. Click Software Update 4. Install available updates 5. Restart when prompted

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Restrict root access

macOS

Limit applications and users with root privileges to reduce attack surface

sudo dscl . -append /Groups/admin GroupMembership username (to add users to admin group)
sudo dscl . -delete /Groups/admin GroupMembership username (to remove users from admin group)

🧯 If You Can't Patch

  • Implement strict application control policies to prevent unauthorized applications from running
  • Monitor for suspicious root-level file modifications using file integrity monitoring tools

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check macOS version in System Settings > General > About. If version is Ventura < 13.7.1 or Sonoma < 14.7.1, system is vulnerable.

Check Version:

sw_vers

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify macOS version is Ventura 13.7.1 or later, or Sonoma 14.7.1 or later.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

  • Unexpected root-level file modifications in system directories
  • Suspicious application execution with root privileges

Network Indicators:

  • None - local privilege escalation only

SIEM Query:

source="macos" AND (event_type="file_modification" AND file_path="/System/*") AND user="root"

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-44260
CVSS v3 Score: 4.4 (MEDIUM)
CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Published: October 28, 2024
Last Updated: November 3, 2025

🔗 References

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