CVE-2024-54531 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.2. An app may be able to bypass kASLR.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-54531 represents a significant security weakness in macOS operating systems that affects memory management and address space layout randomization mechanisms. This issue specifically impacts the kernel's memory handling processes and creates a potential pathway for malicious applications to circumvent kernel address space layout randomization protections that are fundamental to modern operating system security architectures. The flaw exists in the way the system manages memory allocations and could potentially allow an attacker to predict memory layout patterns that should normally be randomized for security purposes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management controls within the kernel's memory handling subsystem. When applications request memory resources or when the system performs memory operations, the vulnerability allows for improper memory layout management that can leak information about memory addresses. This weakness directly impacts the effectiveness of kASLR which is a critical exploit mitigation technique designed to randomize the memory layout of processes and kernel components to prevent attackers from reliably predicting memory addresses for exploitation. The vulnerability essentially creates a mechanism through which an attacker can gather information about memory mappings that should remain randomized.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-54531 extends beyond simple information disclosure as it fundamentally undermines a core security control mechanism that protects against various exploitation techniques. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could potentially use the bypassed kASLR to conduct more sophisticated attacks including return-oriented programming attacks, function pointer overwrites, or other memory corruption exploits that rely on predictable memory addresses. This vulnerability particularly affects the security posture of macOS systems running versions prior to 15.2 and could enable attackers to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The fix for this vulnerability in macOS Sequoia 15.2 addresses the root cause through improved memory handling mechanisms that properly maintain the randomized memory layout. This update ensures that kernel memory allocations and management operations properly preserve the randomized memory addresses that are essential for kASLR effectiveness. The implementation of this fix aligns with established security practices and follows the principles of defense in depth by strengthening memory management controls and ensuring proper isolation between different memory regions.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining robust memory management controls in operating system kernels. The issue relates to CWE-129 which covers improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation, and could potentially be leveraged to achieve techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1068 for bypassing system protections. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that even seemingly minor memory management issues can have significant security implications when they affect fundamental protection mechanisms like ASLR. Organizations should prioritize updating to macOS 15.2 or later versions to ensure proper memory handling and maintain effective kernel security controls.
This vulnerability also highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining secure memory management in complex operating system kernels. The fact that such an issue exists in a modern operating system demonstrates the need for continuous security auditing and the importance of proper memory management implementation. The fix represents a corrective measure that restores proper memory handling behaviors and ensures that the kernel maintains its randomized memory layout properties that are essential for defending against modern exploitation techniques. Security professionals should monitor for similar vulnerabilities in other system components and maintain awareness of memory management issues that could compromise system security controls.