CVE-2024-40828 Overview
CVE-2024-40828 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Apple macOS. A malicious application running on an affected system can gain root privileges by exploiting insufficient validation checks. Apple addressed the issue with improved checks in macOS Monterey 12.7.6, macOS Sonoma 14.6, and macOS Ventura 13.6.8. The weakness is categorized under [CWE-281] (Improper Preservation of Permissions). Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, but successful abuse yields full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Critical Impact
A malicious app installed on macOS can escalate to root privileges, enabling full system control, persistence, and access to protected user data.
Affected Products
- Apple macOS Monterey prior to 12.7.6
- Apple macOS Ventura prior to 13.6.8
- Apple macOS Sonoma prior to 14.6
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-07-29 - CVE-2024-40828 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-40828
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2024-40828 is a local privilege escalation flaw in macOS. Apple's advisory states the issue was resolved through improved checks, indicating that a permission or validation step failed to enforce proper boundaries between user-mode processes and privileged system resources. The vulnerability aligns with [CWE-281], which covers improper preservation of permissions during operations that should retain access restrictions.
An attacker leveraging this vulnerability must first execute code on the target macOS system, typically through a malicious application delivered by phishing, trojanized software, or supply chain compromise. Once running, the malicious app abuses the flawed validation to elevate to root. Root access on macOS bypasses System Integrity Protection assumptions for user data, allows installation of persistent implants, and enables tampering with security controls.
Root Cause
Apple has not published low-level technical details. The vendor advisory attributes the issue to insufficient checks in a privileged code path. [CWE-281] mapping suggests that the affected component failed to preserve or verify permission constraints when handling a request from a lower-privileged caller.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local. An attacker must deliver and execute a crafted application on the target system, and user interaction is required to launch the payload. No credentials are needed once the malicious app runs in the user context. See the Apple Security Advisory 120910, Apple Security Advisory 120911, and Apple Security Advisory 120912 for authoritative vendor detail.
// No public proof-of-concept code is available for CVE-2024-40828.
// Refer to the Apple security advisories referenced above for vendor guidance.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-40828
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected processes running as root that were spawned by user-context applications.
- New or modified LaunchDaemons in /Library/LaunchDaemons/ or /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ created by non-installer processes.
- Unsigned or ad-hoc-signed binaries executing with elevated privileges shortly after a user launches an untrusted application.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor Endpoint Security Framework (ESF) telemetry for ES_EVENT_TYPE_NOTIFY_EXEC events where the effective UID transitions from a standard user to 0 without a legitimate authentication prompt.
- Alert on suid/sgid modifications and on writes to privileged directories originating from user-space applications.
- Correlate application install events with subsequent privilege-elevation activity within a short time window.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest macOS Unified Logs and ESF events into a central analytics platform to enable retrospective hunting for privilege-escalation patterns.
- Track macOS build versions across the fleet and flag endpoints still running macOS Monterey below 12.7.6, Ventura below 13.6.8, or Sonoma below 14.6.
- Baseline expected root-owned processes per host and alert on deviations.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-40828
Immediate Actions Required
- Update affected endpoints to macOS Monterey 12.7.6, macOS Ventura 13.6.8, or macOS Sonoma 14.6 or later.
- Inventory macOS assets and prioritize patching hosts that handle sensitive data or administrative workloads.
- Restrict installation of unsigned or unnotarized applications through Gatekeeper and MDM configuration profiles.
Patch Information
Apple released fixes on July 29, 2024. Refer to Apple Support Article HT214118, Apple Support Article HT214119, and Apple Support Article HT214120 for the corresponding macOS Monterey, Ventura, and Sonoma updates. The full set of fixes is enumerated in Apple Security Advisory 120910, Apple Security Advisory 120911, and Apple Security Advisory 120912.
Workarounds
- Enforce Gatekeeper policies that block execution of applications from unidentified developers until patches are deployed.
- Remove local administrator rights from standard users to reduce the pool of applications that can be installed and executed.
- Use application allowlisting via MDM to prevent untrusted binaries from launching in the interim.
# Verify macOS build version and confirm it meets the fixed release
sw_vers
# Check current Gatekeeper status
spctl --status
# Enforce Gatekeeper if disabled
sudo spctl --master-enable
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
