CVE-2024-40841 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2024
An out-of-bounds write issue was addressed with improved bounds checking. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15, macOS Sonoma 14.7. Processing a maliciously crafted video file may lead to unexpected app termination.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-40841 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw within Apple's media processing frameworks that affects macOS versions prior to 14.7 and 15. This issue stems from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms when handling specially crafted video files, creating a potential vector for arbitrary code execution or system instability. The flaw manifests during the parsing and rendering of media content where the application fails to properly validate array indices or buffer limits before writing data, allowing malicious inputs to overwrite adjacent memory regions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-787, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds write conditions in software systems. When a malicious video file is processed, the media decoder attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially corrupting adjacent memory segments that contain critical application state information or executable code. This type of vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering tactics where users are诱导 to open specially crafted media files, often through phishing campaigns or malicious downloads. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that video processing is a common user activity on macOS systems, making exploitation relatively accessible to threat actors.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for macOS users and organizations as it can lead to complete application crashes or more severe system instability. The unexpected termination of applications during media processing creates a denial of service condition that can disrupt user workflows and potentially provide attackers with opportunities to escalate privileges through subsequent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall within the T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution tactic, as it leverages media processing applications to deliver malicious payloads. Additionally, the vulnerability may be classified under T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter if attackers can leverage the instability to inject commands through compromised applications.
The fix implemented by Apple in macOS Sequoia 15 and macOS Sonoma 14.7 addresses this issue through enhanced bounds checking mechanisms that validate all array indices and buffer limits before data is written to memory. This remediation approach directly mitigates the root cause by ensuring that media processing components perform proper input validation before executing memory write operations. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these updates across all affected systems, particularly in enterprise environments where users may encounter untrusted media content through email attachments, web downloads, or collaborative platforms. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual application termination patterns or memory access violations in media processing components. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in multimedia processing systems and the need for robust memory safety mechanisms in operating system frameworks that handle untrusted content from diverse sources.