CVE-2024-27822: Apple macOS Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

CVE-2024-27822 Overview

CVE-2024-27822 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Apple macOS. Apple describes the flaw as a logic issue addressed with improved restrictions. An application running on a vulnerable system can leverage the weakness to gain root privileges. The issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14.5.

The vulnerability is categorized under [CWE-277] Insecure Inherited Permissions. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, but successful exploitation grants full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the host.

Critical Impact
A malicious application executed on macOS prior to Sonoma 14.5 can escalate to root, enabling attackers to modify system files, disable security controls, and persist on the endpoint.

Affected Products

Apple macOS versions prior to Sonoma 14.5
Apple macOS Sonoma (all releases before 14.5)
Systems running vulnerable macOS installer or privileged helper components addressed by the Sonoma 14.5 update

Discovery Timeline

2024-05-14 - CVE-2024-27822 published to NVD
2024-05-13 - Apple releases macOS Sonoma 14.5 addressing the issue (Apple Support Article)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-27822

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-27822 is a local privilege escalation flaw in macOS. Apple's advisory states that a logic issue allowed an application to gain root privileges. The advisory characterizes the fix as improved restrictions, indicating that a component performed a privileged action without adequately validating the calling context or file permissions.

The [CWE-277] Insecure Inherited Permissions classification suggests that a privileged process inherited or preserved permissions that a lower-privileged process could influence. An attacker with the ability to execute code on the machine, whether through a malicious installer, a trojanized application, or an unsanctioned binary, can exploit this logic gap to promote their process to root.

Once root access is achieved, the attacker gains full control of the endpoint. This includes the ability to disable System Integrity Protection workflows, install persistent components, tamper with system logs, and access sensitive user data protected by TCC.

Root Cause

Apple has not published deep technical details. The advisory attributes the flaw to a logic issue in privilege handling that was corrected by tightening restrictions in the affected macOS component. The CWE mapping points to a component that trusted permissions or ownership state without proper verification.

Attack Vector

Exploitation is local and requires user interaction, typically the user launching or installing an attacker-supplied application. The attacker does not need prior privileges on the target system. Common delivery paths include:

Trojanized .pkg installers or .dmg bundles distributed through phishing or supply-chain compromise
Malicious applications sideloaded outside of Gatekeeper enforcement
Post-initial-access tooling deployed by an operator who already has non-privileged code execution

Technical specifics of the exploitation primitive are not published in the vendor advisory. See the Full Disclosure Mailing List post and the Apple Support Document for additional context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-27822

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected creation of setuid or setgid binaries in user-writable directories such as /Users/Shared or /tmp
New root-owned LaunchDaemons in /Library/LaunchDaemons that reference binaries outside standard system paths
Modifications to /etc/sudoers, /etc/pam.d, or root-owned configuration files following execution of a non-Apple installer

Detection Strategies

Baseline the set of installed .pkg receipts under /Library/Receipts and /private/var/db/receipts and alert on installer activity from non-signed or unexpected publishers
Monitor Endpoint Security framework events for ES_EVENT_TYPE_NOTIFY_EXEC where a non-root parent spawns a root child without a documented privilege-escalation path
Correlate authd, installd, and sudo log entries against process trees originating from user-launched applications

Monitoring Recommendations

Track macOS build versions across the fleet and flag any endpoint reporting a Sonoma build older than 14.5
Ingest Unified Log entries for the com.apple.install and com.apple.securityd subsystems into your SIEM for anomaly review
Alert on unsigned or ad-hoc-signed binaries that acquire root privileges shortly after execution

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-27822

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade all affected endpoints to macOS Sonoma 14.5 or later using Software Update or your MDM
Inventory macOS assets and prioritize patching for developer workstations and administrator endpoints where privileged tooling is common
Restrict installation of third-party .pkg and .dmg files to signed, notarized software distributed through approved channels

Patch Information

Apple addressed CVE-2024-27822 in macOS Sonoma 14.5. Details are available in the Apple Support Article HT214106 and the corresponding Apple Knowledge Base Article. Administrators managing fleets should push the update via MDM configuration profiles and verify installation through sw_vers -productVersion.

Workarounds

No official workaround is published by Apple; upgrading to macOS Sonoma 14.5 is the supported remediation
Enforce Gatekeeper and require notarized applications through MDM policy to reduce the likelihood of executing malicious installers
Remove local administrator rights from standard users to limit the blast radius of any local privilege escalation attempt

bash

# Verify the installed macOS version meets or exceeds 14.5
sw_vers -productVersion

# Trigger the software update check and install available updates
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart