CVE-2024-54546 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2025
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15. An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical memory handling flaw that could enable malicious applications to trigger unexpected system termination or cause kernel memory corruption on affected macOS systems. The issue specifically affects the memory management mechanisms within the operating system kernel, where improper memory handling allows for potential exploitation that could result in system instability or arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability was successfully addressed through enhanced memory management protocols and improved kernel memory handling procedures in macOS Sequoia 15. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can lead to privilege escalation or system compromise, as demonstrated by the potential for kernel memory corruption which represents a fundamental security weakness in the operating system's core architecture. The flaw represents a significant concern for system integrity and stability, as it allows for potential denial of service conditions or more severe security implications when exploited by malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management controls within the kernel space of the operating system. When applications interact with kernel memory through improper memory handling techniques, they can potentially cause memory corruption that leads to system crashes or unpredictable behavior. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which describes "Heap-based Buffer Overflow" and related memory corruption issues that can occur when applications do not properly validate memory boundaries during allocation and deallocation processes. The exploitation of such flaws typically involves crafting specific inputs or memory operations that cause the kernel to behave unexpectedly, potentially leading to privilege escalation or system compromise. The fix implemented in macOS Sequoia 15 addresses these memory handling deficiencies by strengthening the validation mechanisms and improving the robustness of kernel memory management routines.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise environments and individual users alike. Organizations running affected macOS versions face potential system instability that could result in unexpected downtime or data loss scenarios. The potential for kernel memory corruption means that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, as attackers could potentially leverage the vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in security contexts where macOS systems serve as targets for sophisticated attacks, as the kernel-level access could enable attackers to bypass security controls and establish persistent access to systems. The impact extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially enable advanced persistent threats or zero-day exploits that could remain undetected for extended periods.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability centers on immediate deployment of macOS Sequoia 15 updates across all affected systems. Organizations should prioritize patch management procedures to ensure all macOS devices are updated to the latest version that includes the memory handling improvements. Security teams should monitor for any indicators of exploitation attempts, including unusual system crashes or memory-related error logs that may suggest attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. The fix addresses the root cause through enhanced memory validation and improved kernel memory handling, making it essential for system administrators to implement comprehensive update rollouts while maintaining proper system monitoring. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting and kernel extension monitoring to provide defense-in-depth against potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date operating system versions and highlights the need for continuous security monitoring to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updates in controlled environments before widespread deployment to ensure system stability and compatibility with existing applications and services.