CVE-2024-44280 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2024
A downgrade issue affecting Intel-based Mac computers was addressed with additional code-signing restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, macOS Ventura 13.7.1. An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2026
This vulnerability represents a significant security weakness in Intel-based macOS systems that allows malicious applications to potentially modify protected filesystem areas through a downgrade attack vector. The issue stems from insufficient code-signing restrictions that were previously in place, enabling unauthorized modifications to system-protected directories and files. The vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions including the latest releases of Sequoia, Sonoma, and Ventura, indicating a widespread impact across the operating system ecosystem. The downgrade issue specifically exploits the trust relationships between system components and applications, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks.
The technical flaw manifests in the code-signing validation process where applications can bypass security checks that should prevent modification of protected system areas. This weakness operates at the kernel level, where the system fails to properly validate the integrity of applications attempting to access restricted filesystem portions. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by attackers who craft malicious applications designed to exploit the downgrade mechanism. This flaw directly relates to common weakness enumeration CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management and inadequate access control measures in system components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical system directories and files that should remain protected from modification. An attacker could potentially install malicious code in protected areas, modify system libraries, or alter security-critical components without proper authentication. This capability undermines the fundamental security model of macOS, where code-signing and system integrity protections are essential for maintaining system security. The vulnerability could enable persistent backdoors, rootkit installations, or other advanced persistent threats that would be difficult to detect through standard security monitoring.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate deployment of the patched versions mentioned in the advisory, specifically macOS Sequoia 15.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, and macOS Ventura 13.7.1. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Additional protective measures include enabling System Integrity Protection (SIP) features, monitoring for unauthorized filesystem modifications, and implementing application whitelisting policies. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and establish monitoring protocols for suspicious activity in protected system directories. The remediation process should also include user education about the risks of running unsigned or untrusted applications, as the vulnerability may be exploited through social engineering tactics that trick users into installing malicious software.
This vulnerability aligns with several tactics from the attack framework including privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. The attack pattern follows the typical progression where initial access leads to privilege escalation through system-level modifications, ultimately enabling long-term system compromise. The fix implemented by Apple addresses the root cause by strengthening code-signing validation and improving the integrity checking mechanisms that protect system-protected filesystem areas from unauthorized modification attempts. Organizations should monitor threat intelligence feeds for any exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability and maintain updated security configurations to prevent successful attacks.