CVE-2024-54568 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/29/2025
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.2. Parsing a maliciously crafted file may lead to an unexpected app termination.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-54568 represents a memory handling flaw that affects macOS Sequoia 15.2 and earlier versions. This issue was resolved through enhanced memory management protocols within the operating system's file parsing mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests when applications process maliciously crafted files that exploit improper memory allocation and deallocation patterns during file parsing operations. Such flaws typically arise from insufficient input validation and inadequate memory boundary checks that allow attackers to manipulate memory structures through carefully constructed file contents. The fix implemented in macOS Sequoia 15.2 addresses these memory handling deficiencies by introducing more robust validation procedures and improved memory allocation strategies that prevent unauthorized memory access patterns.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs during file parsing operations where applications fail to properly validate file structures before processing. When a malicious file is encountered, the application's memory handling routines may experience buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption scenarios that result in application instability. This memory corruption typically leads to unexpected application termination or crashes, which can be leveraged by attackers to disrupt normal system operations or potentially escalate privileges. The vulnerability aligns with common weakness types documented in CWE-122, which describes buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-476, which covers null pointer dereference scenarios. Attackers can craft specific file formats that trigger these memory handling failures, making this a significant concern for applications that process untrusted file inputs.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-54568 extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can be exploited to create denial of service conditions that affect system availability. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could allow attackers to repeatedly crash critical applications or system services, leading to operational disruptions and potential data accessibility issues. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for applications that process files from untrusted sources, such as email attachments, file sharing systems, or web downloads. Organizations may experience cascading failures if multiple applications are affected by similar memory handling issues, potentially leading to broader system instability. This type of vulnerability also creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks where the initial crash is used as a stepping stone for further exploitation, though the immediate impact is limited to application termination.
Organizations should prioritize updating to macOS Sequoia 15.2 or later versions to address this vulnerability effectively. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive the necessary security updates. Additional mitigations include implementing strict file validation policies, deploying sandboxing technologies, and monitoring for unusual application crash patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The fix addresses the root cause by enhancing memory management routines and improving input validation processes that prevent malicious file structures from triggering memory corruption conditions. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based protections such as intrusion detection systems that can identify patterns associated with file parsing attacks, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. Regular security assessments should be conducted to verify that applications properly handle file inputs and maintain robust memory management practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in custom software solutions.