CVE-2024-23244 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/08/2024
A logic issue was addressed with improved restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.7.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4. An app from a standard user account may be able to escalate privilege after admin user login.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw in apple's macos operating system that allows standard user accounts to potentially elevate their privileges following administrative login events. The issue stems from inadequate access controls and insufficient validation mechanisms within the system's user authentication and authorization framework. The vulnerability specifically manifests when an application running under a standard user account can exploit a logic flaw to gain administrative privileges after an administrator has logged into the system. This creates a window of opportunity where malicious actors can leverage the timing and sequence of user sessions to bypass normal security boundaries.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common privilege escalation patterns found in operating system security models, particularly those involving session management and access control enforcement. The flaw likely resides in how the system handles user context switching or credential validation during the transition from standard to administrative sessions. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the category of improper access control issues, which are commonly classified as cwe-284 access control flaws. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the system level where standard users should not be able to gain elevated privileges through legitimate application execution paths. The security implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation as this flaw could enable attackers to install malicious software, modify system configurations, or access sensitive data that would normally be restricted to administrative users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on macos systems, as it creates a potential attack vector that could allow unauthorized access to system resources. Once exploited, the vulnerability could enable persistent access to systems, facilitate data exfiltration, or provide a foothold for further attacks within network environments. The timing aspect of the vulnerability means that attacks could be launched immediately following administrative login events, making detection more challenging. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and could compromise the integrity of system security controls. The attack surface is broad as it affects both macos monterey 12.7.4 and macos sonoma 14.4 versions, indicating a widespread issue across multiple operating system releases. Organizations may need to implement additional monitoring for unusual application behavior or user session patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts.
The recommended mitigations include immediate deployment of the vendor-provided security updates for macos monterey 12.7.4 and macos sonoma 14.4, which contain the necessary patches to address the access control logic flaw. System administrators should also implement enhanced monitoring for user session transitions and application execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include regular security assessments of application permissions and user access controls, along with implementing the principle of least privilege for all user accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper session management and access control validation in operating system security architectures, particularly in preventing unauthorized privilege escalation through legitimate system interactions. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for suspicious activity during administrative login events to minimize the risk of exploitation.