CVE-2024-27801: Apple iPadOS Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2024-27801 Overview

CVE-2024-27801 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems. Apple addressed the issue with improved checks across iOS, iPadOS, macOS Sonoma, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. An application running on an affected device can leverage the flaw to elevate its privileges beyond its authorized scope.

The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, but successful exploitation yields high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Apple published mitigations in iOS 17.5, iPadOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5, tvOS 17.5, visionOS 1.2, and watchOS 10.5.

Critical Impact
A malicious application installed on an affected Apple device can escalate privileges and gain elevated control over the operating system, compromising user data and device integrity.

Affected Products

Apple iOS and iPadOS prior to 17.5
Apple macOS Sonoma prior to 14.5
Apple tvOS prior to 17.5, visionOS prior to 1.2, and watchOS prior to 10.5

Discovery Timeline

2024-06-10 - CVE-2024-27801 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-27801

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-27801 is classified as a local privilege escalation issue impacting the shared component base across Apple's operating systems. Apple's advisories describe the fix as "improved checks," indicating that a validation or state-check weakness allowed an app to perform actions outside its expected authorization boundary.

Because the same underlying framework is present across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS, a single defect propagated to Apple's entire operating system portfolio. The CWE classification is listed as NVD-CWE-noinfo, as Apple did not disclose the specific weakness class.

The EPSS probability for exploitation is 0.359%, reflecting a low but non-zero forecast of near-term exploit activity. No public proof-of-concept is currently available, and the vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Root Cause

Apple attributes the defect to insufficient checks within an unspecified operating system component. Improved validation logic was added in the patched releases to prevent an application from bypassing intended authorization boundaries.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires an attacker to deliver a crafted application to the target device and induce the user to run it. Once executed locally, the app abuses the weak validation path to obtain elevated privileges within the OS. Remote exploitation without prior local code execution is not possible.

The vulnerability is described in prose only. See Apple Support Advisory #120901 and the Full Disclosure Mailing List Post for vendor-supplied technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-27801

Indicators of Compromise

No public indicators of compromise have been released by Apple or third parties for CVE-2024-27801.
Unexpected installation of unsigned or side-loaded applications on managed Apple devices should be treated as suspicious.
Unexplained privilege transitions or new processes running with elevated entitlements on macOS endpoints warrant investigation.

Detection Strategies

Enforce mobile device management (MDM) inventory checks to identify endpoints running OS versions below iOS 17.5, iPadOS 17.5, macOS 14.5, tvOS 17.5, visionOS 1.2, or watchOS 10.5.
Monitor macOS Unified Log entries for privilege-related anomalies, including unexpected entitlement grants and XPC service abuse.
Correlate application execution telemetry with subsequent process spawning that runs at higher privilege levels than the parent.

Monitoring Recommendations

Alert on installation of applications outside the App Store or MDM-approved catalogs on managed fleets.
Track process lineage on macOS endpoints to flag child processes executing under root or elevated user contexts unexpectedly.
Ingest MDM compliance data into your SIEM to continuously report devices running vulnerable OS versions.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-27801

Immediate Actions Required

Update all Apple devices to iOS 17.5, iPadOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5, tvOS 17.5, visionOS 1.2, or watchOS 10.5 or later.
Push required update policies through MDM to force compliance across managed device fleets.
Restrict installation of untrusted or side-loaded applications, particularly on macOS endpoints where Gatekeeper enforcement can be tuned.

Patch Information

Apple released fixed builds on May 13, 2024 that address CVE-2024-27801 with improved checks. Refer to Apple's advisories for the exact build numbers: HT214101, HT214102, HT214104, HT214106, and HT214108.

Workarounds

No official workarounds have been published by Apple; patching is the required remediation.
Limit installation privileges and enforce application allow-listing via MDM configuration profiles until updates are deployed.
Educate users to avoid installing applications from unverified sources during the remediation window.

bash

# Verify the installed macOS build meets or exceeds the patched version
sw_vers -productVersion
# Expected output: 14.5 or higher on macOS Sonoma

# Check iOS/iPadOS build via MDM query or Settings > General > About
# Ensure version reports 17.5 or later