CVE-2024-54515: Apple macOS Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

CVE-2024-54515 Overview

CVE-2024-54515 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Apple macOS. Apple addressed the issue through improved restrictions in macOS Sequoia 15.2. A malicious application running on an affected system can leverage the flaw to gain root privileges, bypassing the standard user permission model.

The weakness is categorized under [CWE-281] (Improper Preservation of Permissions). It requires local access and low privileges to exploit, with no user interaction needed once the malicious code executes.

Critical Impact
A malicious app running as a standard user can escalate to root, gaining full control over the affected macOS system and its data.

Affected Products

Apple macOS versions prior to Sequoia 15.2
Systems where the vulnerable logic component ships as part of the macOS operating system
Endpoints running unpatched Sequoia builds released before December 11, 2024

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-12 - CVE-2024-54515 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2024-12-11 - Apple released macOS Sequoia 15.2 addressing the issue (per Apple Support Article)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in the NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-54515

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-54515 is a logic flaw in a macOS component that permits an application running with limited local privileges to obtain root. Apple's advisory describes the fix as "improved restrictions," indicating the original code path failed to enforce required checks before granting or preserving elevated permissions.

Because the flaw resides in operating system logic rather than a memory corruption primitive, exploitation is deterministic once the vulnerable code path is reached. The attacker does not need to bypass memory protections such as ASLR or code signing to trigger the escalation.

Successful exploitation compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host. Root access on macOS allows an adversary to install persistence, disable Endpoint Security clients, tamper with TCC (Transparency, Consent, and Control) protections, and read arbitrary user data.

Root Cause

The underlying issue is improper preservation of permissions [CWE-281]. A privileged operation in the vulnerable component did not correctly restrict callers or validate the security context, allowing a lower-privileged process to influence a root-owned action. Apple's patch closes the gap by adding restrictions in the affected code path.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local. An adversary must first execute code on the target macOS host, typically by delivering a malicious application through phishing, a trojanized installer, or supply-chain compromise. Once running as any local user, the application invokes the vulnerable interface to trigger privilege escalation.

No user interaction is required beyond the initial execution of the malicious app. Because macOS often installs applications with limited user prompts, this vulnerability is well suited as a second-stage tool in post-compromise operator playbooks.

Apple has not published exploitation code, and no public proof-of-concept is currently indexed against this CVE. Technical details are referenced in the Full Disclosure Mailing List Post.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-54515

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes of user applications running with uid=0 or euid=0
New LaunchDaemons or LaunchAgents plists written under /Library/LaunchDaemons/ or /Library/LaunchAgents/ shortly after an unsigned or ad-hoc signed app runs
Modifications to files under /private/etc/, /usr/local/, or SIP-adjacent locations by non-system processes
Applications spawning sudo, authopen, or setuid binaries in atypical sequences for the user

Detection Strategies

Alert on user-mode processes that transition to root without an interactive authentication prompt via authd or SecurityAgent
Baseline legitimate privileged helpers registered through SMJobBless and flag new or unsigned helpers appearing on endpoints
Correlate execution of newly downloaded .app bundles with subsequent privilege changes using Endpoint Security framework telemetry

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest macOS Unified Log events for com.apple.authd, com.apple.securityd, and process exec events into a centralized data lake for retrospective hunting
Track macOS build versions across the fleet and flag any endpoint reporting a ProductVersion below 15.2 on Sequoia
Monitor for creation or modification of setuid and setgid binaries outside standard system update windows

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-54515

Immediate Actions Required

Update all Sequoia endpoints to macOS Sequoia 15.2 or later as documented in the Apple Support Article
Inventory macOS assets and prioritize patching for developer workstations, administrator laptops, and systems with access to sensitive data
Restrict installation of unsigned or non-notarized applications through Gatekeeper policy enforcement

Patch Information

Apple fixed CVE-2024-54515 in macOS Sequoia 15.2, released December 11, 2024. The vendor describes the remediation as a logic issue addressed with improved restrictions. Administrators should deploy the update through Apple's software update mechanism or an MDM solution such as Jamf, Kandji, or Intune. Confirm remediation by verifying the ProductVersion reported by sw_vers is 15.2 or higher.

Workarounds

No official workaround exists; Apple's patch is the only supported remediation
Reduce exposure by enforcing least-privilege user accounts and blocking execution of untrusted applications through allowlisting
Require notarization and valid Developer ID signatures for all installed applications via configuration profiles until patching is complete

bash

# Verify macOS version is patched
sw_vers -productVersion
# Expected output: 15.2 or higher

# Trigger software update from the command line
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart