CVE-2024-54546
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows a malicious application to cause kernel memory corruption or system crashes on macOS systems. It affects macOS users running versions before Sequoia 15. The issue stems from improper memory handling that could be exploited by local applications.
💻 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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system crash (kernel panic) leading to denial of service, or kernel memory corruption that could potentially enable privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution in kernel context.
Likely Case
Application-induced system crashes or instability, potentially causing data loss or service disruption on affected macOS systems.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper application sandboxing and least privilege principles, though kernel-level issues remain concerning.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires a malicious application to be installed and executed on the target system. The CWE-400 (Uncontrolled Resource Consumption) classification suggests resource exhaustion or memory handling issues.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: macOS Sequoia 15
Vendor Advisory: https://support.apple.com/en-us/121238
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Open System Settings 2. Click General 3. Click Software Update 4. Install macOS Sequoia 15 update 5. Follow on-screen instructions to complete installation
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Application Restriction
macOSRestrict installation and execution of untrusted applications using macOS security controls
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict application allowlisting to prevent execution of untrusted applications
- Use macOS privacy and security settings to restrict application permissions and sandboxing
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check macOS version: If running version earlier than Sequoia 15, the system is vulnerableCheck Version:
sw_versVerify Fix Applied:
Verify macOS version is Sequoia 15 or later📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Kernel panic logs in /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports
- Unexpected application crashes with memory-related errors
- Console.app logs showing memory allocation failures
Network Indicators:
- No specific network indicators as this is a local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
source="macos" AND (event_type="kernel_panic" OR message="panic" OR message="memory corruption")