CVE-2025-24036
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Microsoft AutoUpdate (MAU) allows attackers to gain elevated privileges on affected systems. It affects macOS devices running Microsoft AutoUpdate, potentially enabling local attackers to execute arbitrary code with higher privileges than intended. The vulnerability requires local access to exploit.
💻 Affected Systems
- Microsoft AutoUpdate (MAU)
📦 What is this software?
Autoupdate by Microsoft
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An attacker with local access could gain root privileges, install persistent malware, access sensitive system files, and completely compromise the macOS system.
Likely Case
Local attackers could escalate privileges to install additional malicious software, modify system configurations, or access protected user data.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and least privilege principles, the impact is limited to the local user context with minimal lateral movement potential.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access to the system. The CWE-367 classification indicates a time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition vulnerability.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Check Microsoft AutoUpdate for latest version via the application or Microsoft's security update
Vendor Advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-24036
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Open Microsoft AutoUpdate application. 2. Check for updates. 3. Install available updates. 4. Alternatively, update through Microsoft 365 apps or download from Microsoft's website.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Microsoft AutoUpdate
macOSTemporarily disable Microsoft AutoUpdate to prevent exploitation while awaiting patch deployment
sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist
sudo rm /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges
- Monitor for suspicious privilege escalation attempts and unauthorized process execution
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Microsoft AutoUpdate version in the application or via terminal: ls -la /Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/Check Version:
defaults read /Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/Microsoft\ AutoUpdate.app/Contents/Info.plist CFBundleVersionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Microsoft AutoUpdate has been updated to the latest version and check that the helper tool has been updated📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual privilege escalation attempts
- Suspicious Microsoft AutoUpdate process behavior
- Unauthorized modifications to system files
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from Microsoft AutoUpdate processes
SIEM Query:
process_name:"Microsoft AutoUpdate" AND (event_type:"privilege_escalation" OR parent_process:"sudo")