CVE-2024-40827 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2024
The issue was addressed with improved checks. 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 overwrite arbitrary files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-40827 represents a significant security flaw in Apple's macOS operating system that could potentially allow malicious applications to overwrite arbitrary files on affected systems. This issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the file system operations that govern how applications interact with system resources. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of macOS including Monterey 12.7.6, Sonoma 14.6, and Ventura 13.6.8, indicating it was present across a broad range of operating system releases and represents a persistent security weakness that required remediation across the entire product line.
The technical nature of this flaw lies in the improper handling of file operations where applications could potentially exploit weak validation checks to target files outside their intended scope. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the category of path traversal or file overwrite attacks, where an application with insufficient input sanitization could manipulate file paths to access or modify files that should remain protected or restricted. The issue represents a failure in proper access control mechanisms and could enable attackers to escalate privileges or cause data corruption by targeting critical system files or user data.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses a serious threat to system integrity and user data security. An attacker could potentially leverage this weakness to overwrite critical system files, user documents, or configuration data, leading to system instability, data loss, or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The implications extend beyond simple file corruption as this could enable more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation or persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-73 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in File Names or Paths, both of which are commonly exploited in file system manipulation attacks. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and potentially T1070 Indicator Removal on Host, as successful exploitation could lead to further malicious activities.
The remediation approach taken by Apple involved implementing improved checks that strengthen the validation mechanisms around file operations and access controls. These improvements likely include enhanced input sanitization, stricter path validation, and more robust access control enforcement that prevents applications from accessing or modifying files outside their designated scope. The fix demonstrates Apple's commitment to addressing security weaknesses through proactive updates and patches, as evidenced by the targeted releases for each affected macOS version. Organizations should prioritize applying these updates to ensure protection against potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability could be leveraged by threat actors to compromise system integrity and user data confidentiality. The patch addresses the root cause by strengthening the security boundaries around file system operations and ensuring that applications cannot bypass normal access controls to manipulate files inappropriately.