CVE-2024-23233 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/08/2024
This issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14.4. Entitlements and privacy permissions granted to this app may be used by a malicious app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2026
CVE-2024-23233 represents a privilege escalation vulnerability affecting macOS Sonoma 14.4 systems where improper entitlements and privacy permissions handling allows malicious applications to potentially exploit legitimate app permissions. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of improper privilege management and permission escalation flaws that can undermine the security model of operating systems. The issue stems from insufficient validation of entitlements and privacy permissions within the macOS framework, creating potential attack vectors where malicious software can leverage legitimate app privileges to perform unauthorized actions.
The technical flaw manifests in the way macOS handles entitlements and privacy permissions for applications, particularly when these permissions are improperly validated or enforced. This vulnerability enables attackers to craft malicious applications that can exploit the granted permissions of legitimate apps, essentially allowing code execution or data access that should be restricted. The weakness exists in the kernel-level permission checking mechanisms that fail to properly verify the authenticity and intent of permission requests, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to macOS environments as it could allow attackers to bypass normal security boundaries and access sensitive system resources. The attack surface expands when malicious applications can leverage legitimate app entitlements to perform actions such as accessing user data, modifying system configurations, or executing unauthorized code. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise when exploited by sophisticated adversaries. The vulnerability affects the core security model of macOS, particularly the sandboxing and entitlement enforcement mechanisms that are fundamental to the operating system's security architecture.
The remediation for CVE-2024-23233 involves updating to macOS Sonoma 14.4 where Apple has implemented improved checks and validation mechanisms for entitlements and privacy permissions. Organizations should ensure immediate deployment of this update across all affected systems to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of application entitlements and monitor for suspicious permission usage patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-276 which addresses improper privileges and CWE-732 which covers incorrect permission assignment. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under privilege escalation techniques, specifically T1068 which covers local privilege escalation and T1548 which addresses abuse of system permissions. Additional mitigations include implementing application whitelisting policies, monitoring for unusual permission requests, and maintaining comprehensive security awareness training for users to recognize potential social engineering attacks that may exploit this vulnerability.