CVE-2024-54529: Apple macOS RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-54529 Overview

CVE-2024-54529 is a logic issue vulnerability affecting multiple versions of Apple macOS that enables a malicious application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation checks within the macOS operating system, which allows attackers to bypass security controls and escalate privileges to the kernel level.

Critical Impact

A malicious application can exploit this logic flaw to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, potentially gaining complete control over the affected macOS system.

Affected Products

• macOS Sequoia versions prior to 15.2
• macOS Ventura versions prior to 13.7.2
• macOS Sonoma versions prior to 14.7.2

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-12-12 - CVE-2024-54529 published to NVD
• 2025-11-03 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-54529

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as a Code Injection (CWE-94) issue resulting from a logic flaw in macOS's internal validation mechanisms. The vulnerability requires local access to the target system and user interaction to exploit, as the attack vector involves executing a malicious application on the victim's machine.

When exploited successfully, an attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, which represents the highest level of access on a macOS system. This level of access would allow an attacker to bypass virtually all security controls, install persistent malware, access protected system resources, and potentially compromise sensitive data stored on the device.

The vulnerability affects three major macOS release trains simultaneously—Sequoia, Ventura, and Sonoma—indicating the flaw exists in shared code between these versions.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-54529 is a logic issue in the validation checks performed by macOS. Apple's security advisory indicates that the vulnerability was addressed through "improved checks," suggesting that the original implementation failed to properly validate certain inputs or conditions before allowing privileged operations. This type of logic flaw typically occurs when edge cases are not properly handled or when security assumptions about data flow prove incorrect.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2024-54529 is local, requiring the attacker to have the ability to execute code on the target system. The exploitation scenario involves:

1. An attacker crafts or distributes a malicious application
2. A user downloads and executes the malicious application
3. The application exploits the logic flaw to bypass security checks
4. The attacker gains kernel-level code execution privileges

While the attack requires user interaction, social engineering techniques or bundling with seemingly legitimate software could facilitate exploitation. The lack of required privileges (PR:N) for the initial application execution combined with kernel-level impact makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-54529

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual applications attempting to access kernel-level resources or system calls
• Unexpected kernel extensions or modifications to system integrity protection (SIP) status
• Suspicious application launches from non-standard directories or with unusual parent processes
• System log entries showing privilege escalation attempts or kernel panic events

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for applications making unexpected system calls that could indicate privilege escalation attempts
• Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying anomalous kernel interactions
• Review application installation sources and maintain application whitelisting policies
• Analyze process trees for suspicious execution chains that terminate in kernel-level access

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable and regularly review macOS Unified Logs for security-related events
• Deploy SentinelOne agents to detect and respond to kernel-level exploitation attempts in real-time
• Monitor for changes to system files, kernel extensions, and security configurations
• Implement alerting for applications attempting to modify protected system resources

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-54529

Immediate Actions Required

• Update all affected macOS systems to the patched versions immediately (Sequoia 15.2, Ventura 13.7.2, or Sonoma 14.7.2)
• Review and restrict application installation permissions to prevent unauthorized software execution
• Enable Gatekeeper and ensure applications are only installed from trusted sources
• Implement application control policies to prevent execution of unsigned or untrusted applications

Patch Information

Apple has released security updates addressing this vulnerability. The following versions contain the fix:

• macOS Sequoia 15.2 - See Apple Support Document #121839
• macOS Ventura 13.7.2 - See Apple Support Document #121840
• macOS Sonoma 14.7.2 - See Apple Support Document #121842

Organizations should prioritize patching all macOS endpoints, particularly those with access to sensitive data or critical systems. Additional technical details can be found in the Full Disclosure mailing list archives.

Workarounds

• Restrict local user accounts to standard (non-administrator) privileges where possible
• Implement strict application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized applications
• Enable macOS Lockdown Mode on high-value targets for additional protection against sophisticated attacks
• Ensure Gatekeeper is enabled and set to only allow apps from the App Store and identified developers

# Verify Gatekeeper status and enable if disabled
spctl --status
sudo spctl --master-enable

# Check for pending macOS software updates
softwareupdate --list

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