CVE-2024-54465 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
A logic issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.2. An app may be able to elevate privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-54465 represents a logic flaw in macOS Sequoia 15.2 that enables unauthorized privilege escalation through improper state management within the operating system. This issue stems from insufficient validation of application states during system operations, creating potential pathways for malicious applications to exploit system integrity mechanisms. The flaw specifically manifests when applications fail to properly manage their execution contexts, allowing them to transition from standard user privileges to elevated system access without appropriate authorization checks. The vulnerability affects the core privilege management system of macOS, where state transitions are not adequately secured against unauthorized manipulation by potentially malicious software components. This logical inconsistency in the operating system's access control mechanisms creates a significant security risk that could be exploited by attackers to gain elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves flaws in how the system handles application state transitions and privilege boundaries during normal operation. When applications attempt to perform operations that require elevated privileges, the system's state management logic fails to properly validate whether the requesting entity has legitimate authorization to execute such operations. This weakness allows applications to manipulate their own execution context or exploit timing windows in the privilege escalation process. The flaw operates at the kernel level where system calls and privilege checks are processed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to bypass fundamental security controls that protect system integrity. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and represents a classic case of inadequate privilege validation mechanisms. The issue demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement where applications can potentially escalate their privileges beyond what is normally permitted.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-54465 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable full system compromise by malicious actors. Once an application successfully elevates its privileges, it gains access to system resources that should normally be restricted to authorized processes only. This could allow attackers to modify system files, install persistent backdoors, monitor user activities, or access sensitive data stored on the system. The vulnerability affects all applications running on macOS Sequoia 15.2 and could be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing campaigns, malicious software distribution, or exploitation of other vulnerabilities that provide initial access. The elevated privilege access could enable persistence mechanisms that allow attackers to maintain control over the compromised system even after reboot cycles. This vulnerability also aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and persistence, where attackers can leverage such flaws to establish long-term access to target systems. The impact is particularly severe as it undermines the fundamental security model of macOS, where proper privilege separation is essential for maintaining system integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-54465 should prioritize immediate system updates to macOS Sequoia 15.2 where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of system processes and privilege changes to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all applications running on affected systems to identify potential exploitation vectors. The implementation of application whitelisting policies can help prevent unauthorized applications from executing and attempting to exploit the privilege escalation mechanism. System administrators should also review and strengthen access control policies, particularly around applications that require elevated privileges for normal operation. Regular security audits should be conducted to verify that privilege management systems are functioning correctly and that no unauthorized applications have gained elevated access. Additional defensive measures include implementing behavioral monitoring to detect anomalous privilege escalation patterns and ensuring that all system components are running the latest security patches. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper state management in security-critical systems and highlights the need for continuous security testing and validation of privilege management mechanisms.