CVE-2024-40825 in visionOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2024
The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15, visionOS 2. A malicious app with root privileges may be able to modify the contents of system files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw in Apple's operating systems that allows malicious applications with root privileges to potentially modify protected system files. The issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the system's file access controls, creating a pathway for unauthorized modifications to critical system components. The vulnerability affects macOS Sequoia 15 and visionOS 2, indicating that prior versions likely contain the same weakness. This type of flaw directly impacts the integrity of the operating system's security model by undermining the principle of least privilege and potentially allowing attackers to compromise the entire system through subtle file manipulation attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems. When an application operates with root privileges, it should be strictly limited to performing only authorized operations on system resources. However, this flaw suggests that the system fails to properly validate or restrict file modification operations even when executed by privileged processes. The attack vector involves a malicious application that has already gained root access, which means the vulnerability likely exists in the validation logic that governs what operations root processes can perform on system files. This creates a scenario where even legitimate root processes could be exploited to perform unauthorized modifications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file corruption, as it could enable attackers to modify critical system components such as binaries, configuration files, or security-related utilities. This capability allows for persistent backdoor installation, system integrity compromise, and potential escalation to full system control. The vulnerability represents a significant threat to enterprise environments where privileged applications might be compromised, and it could facilitate advanced persistent threat campaigns. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence, specifically T1548.001 for abuse of root privileges and T1059 for command and script execution. The fact that this issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15 and visionOS 2 indicates that Apple has implemented enhanced validation checks that likely include additional access control mechanisms and more rigorous file modification auditing.
Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the affected operating system updates to mitigate this risk, particularly in environments where root privileges are granted to applications or where system integrity is paramount. Security teams should also implement enhanced monitoring for unauthorized file modifications, especially in system directories, and consider implementing additional controls such as file integrity monitoring solutions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and highlights the critical nature of protecting privileged accounts and processes from compromise. System administrators should conduct thorough security assessments to ensure that no malicious applications with elevated privileges exist on affected systems, and implement proper access control policies to minimize the risk of privilege abuse.