CVE-2025-24234 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
This issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5. A malicious app may be able to gain root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that existed within Apple's macOS operating system across multiple versions including Ventura 13.7.4, Sonoma 14.7.4, and Sequoia 15.3. The issue stemmed from a code execution flaw that allowed malicious applications to bypass system security controls and execute with root privileges. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous as they fundamentally undermine the operating system's security model and trust boundaries. The vulnerability was classified as a privilege escalation vector that could be exploited through carefully crafted malicious applications designed to leverage the underlying code flaw. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can compromise the entire system integrity when successfully exploited.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involved a specific code path that failed to properly validate or sanitize input from applications attempting to perform elevated operations. The flaw likely existed within kernel-level components or system call handlers that are responsible for managing privilege levels and access controls. According to industry standards, this vulnerability would be categorized under CWE-276, which deals with improper privileges, or potentially CWE-782, which addresses exposed function in a privileged context. The exploitation mechanism would have required a malicious application to be installed on the target system, as the vulnerability was not remotely exploitable but rather required local execution and user interaction to install the malicious payload. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes "Local Port Forwarding" and related privilege escalation methods that leverage system-level vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe as it provided attackers with complete system control once successfully exploited. With root privileges, an attacker could modify system files, install persistent backdoors, access all user data, and disable security mechanisms. This vulnerability was particularly concerning because it could be exploited through seemingly legitimate applications that might appear to be benign or trusted. The fix implemented by Apple involved removing the vulnerable code paths that allowed for the privilege escalation, effectively closing the attack vector. The remediation was included in the security updates for macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, which were released to address the specific code execution flaw that enabled the root privilege escalation. Organizations and users were strongly advised to update to these versions immediately to protect against potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrated the importance of maintaining up-to-date system security patches and highlighted the critical nature of kernel-level security controls in preventing unauthorized privilege escalation attacks.