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:

A malicious application distributed through unofficial channels or sideloading
A legitimate application that has been compromised or contains malicious payloads
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

bash

# 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;"