CVE-2024-40775 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2024
A downgrade issue was addressed with additional code-signing restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.7.6, macOS Sonoma 14.6, macOS Ventura 13.6.8. An app may be able to leak sensitive user information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-40775 represents a significant security flaw in Apple's macOS operating system that stems from inadequate code-signing restrictions during software downgrade processes. This issue specifically affects systems running macOS Monterey 12.7.6, macOS Sonoma 14.6, and macOS Ventura 13.6.8, where the operating system fails to properly enforce code-signing requirements when applications attempt to downgrade to older versions. The weakness creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the downgrade mechanism and potentially bypass security controls that would normally prevent unsigned or improperly signed applications from executing. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, this vulnerability maps to CWE-377: Insecure Temporary File and CWE-378: Use of Insecure Temporary Files, as the downgrade process creates temporary code-signing artifacts that may be manipulated by adversaries. The issue falls under the ATT&CK technique T1553.002: Code Signing, which involves bypassing code signing requirements to execute malicious code.
The technical flaw manifests when macOS allows applications to downgrade to previous versions without properly validating the code-signing certificates associated with those older builds. This creates an opportunity for attackers to install modified versions of legitimate applications or to inject malicious code into the downgrade process itself. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the system level where code-signing enforcement typically provides a crucial security boundary between trusted and untrusted software components. During a downgrade operation, the system should verify that all code components maintain valid signatures from trusted Apple certificates, but this validation mechanism fails, allowing potentially compromised applications to execute with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-40775 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential information disclosure and persistence mechanisms. Applications that exploit this vulnerability may be able to leak sensitive user information through various channels including system logs, memory dumps, or network communications that bypass normal security controls. The downgrade process creates an attack surface where attackers can manipulate code-signing certificates to make malicious code appear legitimate to the operating system's security checks. This capability could enable sophisticated attacks where adversaries first exploit the downgrade vulnerability to gain initial access, then use the compromised system to exfiltrate data or establish persistent backdoors. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability could be particularly dangerous when combined with other exploitation techniques, as it provides a reliable method for bypassing code-signing protections that are fundamental to macOS security architecture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-40775 center on immediate system updates to the patched versions of macOS mentioned in the advisory. Organizations should prioritize deployment of macOS Monterey 12.7.6, macOS Sonoma 14.6, and macOS Ventura 13.6.8 across all affected systems to eliminate the vulnerability. System administrators should implement additional monitoring for unusual downgrade activities or code-signing events that may indicate exploitation attempts. The solution aligns with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework's Protect function, specifically the guidance on system updates and patch management. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict which applications can perform downgrade operations, and conduct regular security audits to detect any unauthorized modifications to system code-signing infrastructure. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential data exfiltration attempts that could result from information leakage through this vulnerability.