CVE-2024-23232 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/08/2024
A privacy issue was addressed with improved handling of temporary files. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14.4. An app may be able to capture a user's screen.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2026
This vulnerability represents a significant privacy concern in macOS Sonoma 14.4, where improper temporary file handling created opportunities for unauthorized screen capture operations. The flaw stems from inadequate sandboxing controls and insufficient access restrictions for temporary file operations, allowing malicious applications to potentially intercept and record user screen activities without proper authorization. The issue manifests when applications fail to properly secure temporary file resources, creating potential attack vectors for surveillance operations. Security researchers identified that the vulnerability was specifically related to how the operating system managed temporary file creation and access permissions, which could be exploited by applications with elevated privileges or those that bypass standard security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common weaknesses documented in CWE-377, which addresses insecure temporary file handling practices in software systems. The flaw enables unauthorized access to screen capture functionalities through improper temporary file management, creating a pathway for persistent surveillance operations. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to monitor user activities, capture sensitive information, or record confidential interactions without user knowledge. The issue particularly affects applications that require temporary file storage during screen recording or capture operations, where insufficient validation of file access controls allows unauthorized entities to intercept and manipulate screen data streams.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents substantial risks to user privacy and data protection protocols across macOS environments. The impact extends beyond individual user privacy concerns to potential corporate security breaches, as malicious actors could exploit this flaw to access confidential business information, personal communications, or sensitive documents. Organizations relying on macOS systems for critical operations face increased exposure to data interception attacks that could compromise intellectual property, customer information, or proprietary business data. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple applications demonstrates the systemic nature of temporary file handling security flaws, requiring comprehensive remediation strategies.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate system updates to macOS Sonoma 14.4, which implements improved temporary file handling mechanisms and enhanced sandboxing controls. Security administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify applications that may be exploiting this flaw or that have inadequate temporary file security measures. System monitoring should focus on unusual temporary file creation patterns and unauthorized screen capture operations. Organizations should also implement network-based monitoring solutions to detect potential screen capture activities and establish incident response protocols for potential exploitation attempts. The fix addresses underlying ATT&CK technique T1566 by improving system controls against unauthorized screen capture operations, while also mitigating potential lateral movement opportunities through enhanced temporary file access controls. Regular security audits should verify that temporary file handling practices comply with security best practices and that applications properly implement secure file management protocols to prevent similar vulnerabilities from reoccurring.