CVE-2024-40834 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2024
This issue was addressed by adding an additional prompt for user consent. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.7.6, macOS Sonoma 14.6, macOS Ventura 13.6.8. A shortcut may be able to bypass sensitive Shortcuts app settings.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2026
This vulnerability represents a significant security flaw in Apple's Shortcuts application that could potentially allow unauthorized access to sensitive system settings through a bypass mechanism. The issue manifests as a weakness in the application's permission model where a malicious shortcut could theoretically circumvent the normal user consent prompts that should govern access to system resources. The vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions including Monterey 12.7.6, Sonoma 14.6, and Ventura 13.6.8, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's operating system ecosystem. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of privilege escalation and unauthorized access, which are commonly tracked under CWE-276 for insecure permissions and CWE-862 for insufficient authorization. The security implications extend beyond simple application access as the Shortcuts app serves as a powerful automation tool that can interact with various system components and user data.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation of user consent mechanisms within the Shortcuts application's runtime environment. When users interact with shortcuts that require system access, the normal workflow should include explicit user prompts that clearly indicate what permissions are being requested and require explicit approval. However, the vulnerability allows for scenarios where a shortcut could potentially bypass these prompts through malformed execution sequences or by exploiting timing windows in the consent verification process. This bypass capability creates a dangerous precedent where malicious actors could craft shortcuts that appear benign but actually attempt to access sensitive system functions without proper user awareness or approval. The underlying mechanism likely involves improper state management or insufficient input validation in the application's permission handling subsystem, allowing shortcut execution to proceed without proper authorization checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to system settings that should normally require explicit user consent. Attackers could potentially craft malicious shortcuts that automatically perform actions such as accessing user data, modifying system configurations, or even executing commands that would normally require elevated privileges. The risk is particularly concerning given that the Shortcuts app is designed to automate user tasks and can interact with a wide range of system components, making it a valuable target for exploitation. This vulnerability could be exploited through social engineering campaigns where users unknowingly execute malicious shortcuts, or through automated attack vectors that leverage the bypass mechanism to silently access sensitive system resources. The issue represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and could potentially serve as a foothold for more extensive system compromise.
Apple's response to this vulnerability involved implementing an additional prompt for user consent as a mitigation strategy, which aligns with established security practices for addressing authorization bypasses. This approach follows the principle of defense in depth by adding an extra layer of verification before granting access to sensitive system settings. The fix across multiple macOS versions demonstrates Apple's recognition of the widespread nature of the vulnerability and the importance of consistent security updates. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability highlights the importance of proper consent mechanisms and the need for robust validation of user interactions within automation tools. Organizations should ensure that all affected systems are updated to the patched versions and should consider monitoring for unusual shortcut activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include verification that the additional consent prompts are functioning correctly and that users are properly informed about the permissions they are granting to automation tools. This vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments of automation frameworks and the need for continuous monitoring of permission-based access controls within operating system applications.