CVE-2024-23249 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/08/2024
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14.4. Processing a file may lead to a denial-of-service or potentially disclose memory contents.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-23249 represents a memory handling flaw within macOS Sonoma 14.4 that exposes systems to potential denial-of-service conditions and memory disclosure risks. This issue specifically manifests when processing certain files that trigger improper memory management operations within the operating system's kernel or system libraries. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and handling of memory allocations during file processing operations, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the system's memory management subsystem.
The technical nature of this flaw falls under CWE-129, which describes improper validation of the length of input data, and CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. When an attacker crafts or manipulates a file to trigger the vulnerable code path, the system may experience memory corruption that leads to system instability or unauthorized memory access. The memory disclosure aspect of this vulnerability allows for potential information leakage that could reveal sensitive data structures, system pointers, or other confidential information stored in memory regions. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in operating system contexts where memory management directly impacts system stability and security boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-23249 extends beyond simple system crashes or restarts, as the potential memory disclosure component could enable sophisticated attacks that gather intelligence about system configurations, running processes, or even cryptographic keys. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform reconnaissance activities or combine it with other exploits to achieve more significant compromise objectives. The denial-of-service component affects system availability and could be weaponized to disrupt critical services or user productivity. Organizations relying on macOS systems for business operations face potential downtime and data exposure risks that could impact their operational continuity and regulatory compliance.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on timely patch management and system updates to ensure all affected systems run macOS Sonoma 14.4 or later versions. Security teams should implement monitoring for unusual system behavior or memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004, which covers system shutdown/reboot attacks, and potentially T1566.001 for social engineering attacks that might involve file manipulation. Organizations should also consider implementing file validation controls and sandboxing mechanisms to limit the impact of potentially malicious files, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar memory handling issues in other system components.