CVE-2024-27824: Apple macOS Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

CVE-2024-27824 Overview

CVE-2024-27824 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting multiple versions of Apple macOS. Apple addressed the issue by removing the vulnerable code. According to Apple's advisory, an app may be able to elevate privileges on affected systems. The flaw is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5, and macOS Ventura 13.6.7.

Critical Impact
A local attacker with the ability to run a malicious application can elevate privileges, gaining high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected macOS host.

Affected Products

Apple macOS Monterey prior to 12.7.5
Apple macOS Ventura prior to 13.6.7
Apple macOS Sonoma prior to 14.5

Discovery Timeline

2024-05-14 - CVE-2024-27824 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2024-05-14 - Apple releases security updates for macOS Monterey 12.7.5, Ventura 13.6.7, and Sonoma 14.5
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-27824

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-27824 is a local privilege escalation issue in macOS. Apple's advisory states the fix was implemented by removing the vulnerable code, indicating the affected component contained a logic or access control weakness rather than a memory safety defect. The National Vulnerability Database records the weakness as NVD-CWE-noinfo, and Apple has not disclosed the specific subsystem or function involved.

Successful exploitation allows a malicious application running with limited privileges to escalate to a higher privilege context on the local host. Apple's description confirms the impact scope: "An app may be able to elevate privileges." Combined with user interaction (such as launching a crafted application), the flaw yields high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Root Cause

Apple attributed the fix to removal of the vulnerable code path. This suggests the affected functionality was either deprecated or replaced entirely, rather than patched in place. Apple has not published deeper technical details, and the associated Common Weakness Enumeration is listed as NVD-CWE-noinfo.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access to the target macOS system and user interaction to launch the malicious application. A threat actor would deliver a crafted application to a target through phishing, drive-by download, or bundled installer. Once executed, the application abuses the vulnerable code path to gain elevated privileges. No verified public proof-of-concept or exploit code is currently available for CVE-2024-27824, and CISA has not added the CVE to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Refer to Apple's advisories for the definitive technical scope: Apple Support Article #120899, Apple Support Article #120900, and Apple Support Article #120903.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-27824

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected macOS processes executing with elevated privileges initiated from user-writable directories such as /Users/*/Downloads or /tmp.
Creation or modification of LaunchDaemons (/Library/LaunchDaemons/) or LaunchAgents shortly after untrusted application execution.
Unsigned or ad-hoc signed applications spawning child processes with root or admin group membership.

Detection Strategies

Monitor Endpoint Security framework telemetry for ES_EVENT_TYPE_NOTIFY_EXEC events where the effective UID changes unexpectedly during process execution.
Alert on invocations of privileged helper tools and SMJobBless operations from applications lacking valid Developer ID signatures.
Correlate application launches from quarantined origins (com.apple.quarantine extended attribute) with subsequent privileged actions.

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest Unified Log (log stream) entries for subsystems com.apple.securityd and com.apple.xpc.launchd into a centralized SIEM for retrospective hunting.
Track installed OS build versions across the macOS fleet and flag any device still running builds prior to 12.7.5, 13.6.7, or 14.5.
Baseline privileged process trees and alert on deviations that involve newly delivered binaries.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-27824

Immediate Actions Required

Update macOS Monterey hosts to 12.7.5, macOS Ventura hosts to 13.6.7, and macOS Sonoma hosts to 14.5 or later.
Inventory endpoints using MDM tooling to identify systems that have not received the May 2024 security updates.
Restrict installation of unsigned applications by enforcing Gatekeeper policies and requiring notarized software.

Patch Information

Apple released fixes on 2024-05-14. Consult the vendor advisories for build numbers and download links: Apple Support HT214105 (Monterey 12.7.5), Apple Support HT214106 (Ventura 13.6.7), and Apple Support HT214107 (Sonoma 14.5). Apple states the vulnerable code was removed in these releases.

Workarounds

No vendor-supplied workaround exists; applying the security update is the only supported remediation.
Limit local user privileges and avoid running untrusted applications on standard user accounts until patching is complete.
Enforce application allowlisting through MDM configuration profiles to prevent execution of unapproved binaries.

bash

# Verify current macOS version and apply pending updates
sw_vers -productVersion
sudo softwareupdate --list
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart