CVE-2024-54549 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2025
This issue was addressed with improved redaction of sensitive information. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.2. An app may be able to access user-sensitive data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2025
This vulnerability represents a significant information disclosure flaw in macOS Sequoia 15.2 that allows applications to potentially access user-sensitive data through inadequate redaction mechanisms. The issue stems from insufficient sanitization of sensitive information within the operating system's data handling processes, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to confidential user data. Security researchers identified that certain applications could exploit this weakness to extract sensitive information that should have been properly redacted during processing or display operations. The vulnerability specifically affects the system's ability to effectively mask or remove sensitive data elements, potentially exposing personal information, authentication credentials, or other confidential user data through improper data handling procedures.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the operating system's failure to properly sanitize data streams or user interfaces where sensitive information might be inadvertently exposed. This could occur during data processing operations, display rendering, or when applications interact with system-level data structures. The vulnerability manifests when applications attempt to access or process data that contains sensitive elements, but the system's redaction mechanisms fail to completely remove or mask these elements, allowing them to be accessed by unauthorized applications or processes. This type of information exposure typically falls under the category of data leakage through improper data sanitization, which is classified as CWE-20: Improper Input Validation and CWE-532: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log Files. The issue demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in the system's data protection mechanisms and highlights the critical importance of proper information sanitization in operating system design.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it could enable sophisticated attackers to gather intelligence about users and their systems. Applications with elevated privileges or those that can manipulate system processes may exploit this weakness to access sensitive user data including personal information, authentication tokens, or other confidential elements. The potential for privilege escalation exists when applications can leverage this vulnerability to gain access to system resources or user data that they should not normally be able to access. This creates a risk of cascading security issues where initial unauthorized data access can lead to further compromise of user accounts, system integrity, or confidentiality of sensitive communications. The vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and could enable attackers to perform reconnaissance activities or conduct more targeted attacks against users or systems. From an adversarial perspective, this issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1074.001: Data Staged and T1566.001: Phishing, as it enables the collection of sensitive information that can be used for further exploitation.
The fix implemented in macOS Sequoia 15.2 addresses this vulnerability through enhanced redaction mechanisms that ensure sensitive information is properly masked or removed during processing operations. This update strengthens the system's data sanitization protocols and improves the reliability of information protection measures across various application interfaces and system processes. The mitigation approach involves implementing more robust data filtering and sanitization procedures that prevent sensitive elements from being exposed through application interfaces or system-level data handling operations. Users should immediately update to macOS Sequoia 15.2 to protect against potential exploitation of this vulnerability, as the update includes enhanced security controls that address the root cause of the information disclosure issue. Organizations should also review their application deployment practices to ensure that systems are properly updated and that appropriate access controls are maintained to minimize the risk of exploitation. The fix represents a critical security enhancement that restores proper information protection boundaries within the operating system's data handling architecture.