CVE-2024-54476
📋 TL;DR
This macOS vulnerability allows applications to access sensitive user data they shouldn't have permission to view. It affects users running vulnerable versions of macOS Sequoia, Ventura, and Sonoma. The issue stems from insufficient access controls that apps can potentially bypass.
💻 Affected Systems
- macOS
📦 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
Malicious applications could exfiltrate sensitive user data including passwords, personal documents, financial information, and authentication tokens.
Likely Case
Legitimate but poorly secured applications could inadvertently access and expose user data through programming errors or third-party libraries.
If Mitigated
With proper application sandboxing and security controls, only applications with specific entitlements could potentially exploit this vulnerability.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires a malicious or compromised application to be installed and executed on the target system. No remote exploitation vector identified.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: macOS Sequoia 15.2, macOS Ventura 13.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.7.2
Vendor Advisory: https://support.apple.com/en-us/121839
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
Application Sandboxing Enforcement
allUse macOS privacy controls to restrict application access to sensitive data locations
Application Whitelisting
allOnly allow trusted applications to run on affected systems
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict application control policies to prevent untrusted applications from executing
- Use macOS privacy settings to restrict all applications from accessing sensitive directories like Documents, Desktop, and Downloads
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check macOS version in System Settings > General > About. If version is Sequoia <15.2, Ventura <13.7.2, or Sonoma <14.7.2, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
sw_versVerify Fix Applied:
After update, verify macOS version shows Sequoia 15.2, Ventura 13.7.2, or Sonoma 14.7.2 or higher.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual file access patterns by applications in Console logs
- Privacy permission requests for unexpected data access
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected outbound data transfers from applications that shouldn't be accessing sensitive data
SIEM Query:
source="macos" event_type="file_access" sensitive_path="*" application NOT IN (trusted_apps)