CVE-2024-40774: Apple macOS Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-40774 Overview

CVE-2024-40774 is a code-signing downgrade vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems including macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS. This security flaw allows a malicious application to bypass Privacy preferences, potentially granting unauthorized access to protected user data and system resources. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient code-signing restrictions that could be exploited to downgrade security controls.

Critical Impact

A malicious application can bypass Privacy preferences on affected Apple devices, potentially compromising user data confidentiality and system integrity without user consent.

Affected Products

• Apple macOS Ventura (versions prior to 13.6.8)
• Apple macOS Monterey (versions prior to 12.7.6)
• Apple macOS Sonoma (versions prior to 14.6)
• Apple iOS (versions prior to 17.6)
• Apple iPadOS (versions prior to 17.6)
• Apple watchOS (versions prior to 10.6)
• Apple tvOS (versions prior to 17.6)

Discovery Timeline

• July 29, 2024 - CVE-2024-40774 published to NVD
• November 4, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-40774

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability represents a code-signing downgrade issue within Apple's security framework. The flaw allows applications to circumvent the Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) framework that enforces Privacy preferences on Apple platforms. By exploiting weaknesses in code-signing validation, an attacker can downgrade the security posture of an application to bypass restrictions that would normally require explicit user consent.

The attack requires local access and low privileges, meaning an attacker must first gain the ability to execute code on the target device. Once achieved, the vulnerability enables high-impact compromise of both confidentiality and integrity, allowing unauthorized access to protected resources such as camera, microphone, contacts, photos, and other privacy-sensitive data.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in insufficient code-signing restrictions within Apple's operating systems. The validation logic for code signatures contained weaknesses that allowed applications to present themselves in a manner that bypasses the normal privacy preference checks. Apple addressed this by implementing additional code-signing restrictions to prevent the downgrade attack vector.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local, requiring an attacker to have the ability to execute an application on the target device. This could be achieved through:

1. A malicious application distributed through unofficial channels or sideloading
2. A legitimate application that has been compromised or contains malicious payloads
3. Social engineering to convince users to install malicious software

Once the malicious application is running, it exploits the code-signing downgrade vulnerability to bypass TCC protections and access privacy-protected resources without triggering the standard permission prompts that users would normally see.

The exploitation mechanism involves manipulating code-signing attributes to trick the operating system into granting elevated permissions. Without additional code-signing restrictions, the system fails to properly validate whether the application should have access to protected resources.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-40774

Indicators of Compromise

• Applications accessing privacy-protected resources (camera, microphone, contacts, location) without corresponding TCC database entries
• Unusual code-signing certificate chains or signatures on running applications
• Applications with mismatched or downgraded code-signing attributes compared to their expected state
• Unexpected modifications to TCC.db or related privacy databases

Detection Strategies

• Monitor TCC database access patterns for anomalous permission grants or bypasses
• Implement endpoint detection rules to identify applications with suspicious code-signing characteristics
• Use application allowlisting to prevent execution of unsigned or improperly signed applications
• Deploy behavioral analysis to detect applications accessing protected resources without corresponding user consent dialogs

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive system logging for application launches and permission requests
• Monitor for applications that access multiple privacy-sensitive APIs in rapid succession
• Implement alerts for TCC database modifications outside of normal user interaction patterns
• Review code-signing validation logs for failed or suspicious validation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-40774

Immediate Actions Required

• Update all affected Apple devices to the patched versions immediately
• Review installed applications for suspicious or unauthorized software
• Enable automatic updates on all Apple devices to receive future security patches
• Audit TCC database entries to ensure no unauthorized permissions have been granted

Patch Information

Apple has released security updates to address this vulnerability across all affected platforms. Apply the following updates:

• macOS Ventura: Update to version 13.6.8 or later - Apple Support Article HT214119
• macOS Monterey: Update to version 12.7.6 or later - Apple Support Article HT214120
• macOS Sonoma: Update to version 14.6 or later - Apple Support Article HT214117
• iOS and iPadOS: Update to version 17.6 or later - Apple Support Article HT214117
• watchOS: Update to version 10.6 or later - Apple Support Article HT214124
• tvOS: Update to version 17.6 or later - Apple Support Article HT214122

Workarounds

• Restrict application installation to only App Store applications until patches can be applied
• Enable Lockdown Mode on iOS devices for high-risk users requiring enhanced protection
• Review and remove unnecessary applications that may pose a risk
• Implement Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies to enforce application restrictions

# Check current macOS version
sw_vers

# Check for available updates
softwareupdate --list

# Install all available updates
softwareupdate --install --all

# Verify TCC database integrity (requires elevated privileges)
sqlite3 ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.apple.TCC/TCC.db "SELECT * FROM access;"