CVE-2024-23274 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/08/2024
An injection issue was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.7.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4, macOS Ventura 13.6.5. An app may be able to elevate privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-23274 represents a critical injection flaw that affects multiple versions of Apple's macOS operating system. This issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the system's core processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's privilege escalation mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically impacts macOS Monterey 12.7.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4, and macOS Ventura 13.6.5, indicating a widespread concern across Apple's operating system ecosystem. The flaw allows an application to potentially elevate its privileges beyond normal user limitations, fundamentally compromising the system's security model.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-749, which describes "Expose of Functionality to Unintended Actors" and represents a privilege escalation issue that enables unauthorized applications to gain elevated system privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of injection attacks where malformed input can be used to manipulate system behavior and bypass security controls. The root cause appears to be inadequate sanitization of user inputs or system parameters that are processed by privileged system components, allowing crafted payloads to be interpreted as legitimate system commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a potential gateway for more sophisticated attacks within the macOS environment. An attacker who can successfully exploit this vulnerability could potentially gain root access to the system, enabling them to install malicious software, modify system files, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors. This type of attack vector is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where macOS systems may host critical business data and infrastructure components. The vulnerability's presence across multiple macOS versions suggests that organizations running any of these affected systems require immediate attention to prevent potential exploitation.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence. The attack pattern aligns with T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and T1078, covering "Valid Accounts," as the exploitation may involve leveraging existing user accounts to gain elevated privileges. Organizations should prioritize patching their systems to the latest versions of macOS, as Apple has addressed this issue in the specified updates. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive system monitoring for suspicious privilege escalation attempts, implementation of application whitelisting policies, and regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should consider deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that can monitor for anomalous behavior patterns consistent with privilege escalation attacks, particularly focusing on unusual system calls or process execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.