CVE-2024-54557: Apple macOS Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2024-54557 Overview

CVE-2024-54557 is a logic flaw in Apple macOS that allows an attacker to access protected parts of the file system. Apple addressed the issue with improved restrictions in macOS Sequoia 15.2, macOS Sonoma 14.7.2, and macOS Ventura 13.7.2. The weakness is categorized under [CWE-281] Improper Preservation of Permissions, indicating that file system protections were not correctly enforced. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality of files in restricted locations without affecting integrity or availability. Apple published advisories for each affected macOS branch.

Critical Impact
An attacker may bypass macOS file system protections and read data in directories that should remain inaccessible to unprivileged contexts.

Affected Products

Apple macOS Ventura prior to 13.7.2
Apple macOS Sonoma prior to 14.7.2
Apple macOS Sequoia prior to 15.2

Discovery Timeline

2025-01-27 - CVE-2024-54557 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-04-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-54557

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a logic issue in macOS that lets an attacker reach protected parts of the file system. macOS enforces several layers of file system protections, including System Integrity Protection (SIP), Transparency, Consent and Control (TCC), and sandbox containers. A logic flaw in one of these enforcement paths permits access that policy should deny. Apple's advisories describe the remediation as improved restrictions, indicating that the affected component did not consistently apply the required permission checks before granting access to a resource.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper preservation of permissions [CWE-281]. A code path failed to validate or maintain access controls before exposing protected file system locations. Logic flaws of this type typically arise when a privileged helper, framework, or system service grants a caller broader file access than the caller's entitlements should allow. Apple resolved the defect by tightening the restrictions enforced along that code path.

Attack Vector

The CVSS vector indicates a network attack vector with no privileges or user interaction required, and impact limited to confidentiality. Apple's advisory text states that an attacker may gain access to protected parts of the file system. Apple has not published technical details, proof-of-concept exploit code, or exploitation telemetry. The vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and no public exploit is available.

No verified exploitation code is publicly available. Refer to the Apple Security Support Article #121839, Apple Security Support Article #121840, and Apple Security Support Article #121842 for vendor details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-54557

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected reads against SIP-protected or TCC-protected paths such as /System, /Library/Application Support, ~/Library/Mail, and ~/Library/Messages.
Processes accessing user data containers outside of their declared sandbox entitlements.
Unsigned or non-Apple binaries traversing directories normally restricted to system services.

Detection Strategies

Audit Endpoint Security framework events (ES_EVENT_TYPE_NOTIFY_OPEN, ES_EVENT_TYPE_NOTIFY_READDIR) for access to protected paths by non-system processes.
Correlate Unified Log entries from tccd and sandboxd to identify denied-then-allowed access transitions.
Compare installed macOS build versions across managed endpoints against the patched releases 13.7.2, 14.7.2, and 15.2.

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest macOS Unified Log and Endpoint Security telemetry into a centralized analytics platform for behavioral baselining.
Alert on file reads of sensitive user libraries by processes lacking the appropriate entitlements.
Track macOS version inventory continuously to confirm patch deployment across the fleet.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-54557

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade macOS endpoints to Ventura 13.7.2, Sonoma 14.7.2, or Sequoia 15.2 or later.
Enforce automatic security updates through Mobile Device Management (MDM) policy.
Restrict installation of unsigned third-party software that could leverage the flaw before patches are applied.

Patch Information

Apple released fixes in macOS Sequoia 15.2, macOS Sonoma 14.7.2, and macOS Ventura 13.7.2. Patch details are documented in the Apple Security Support Article #121839, Apple Security Support Article #121840, and Apple Security Support Article #121842.

Workarounds

No vendor-supplied workaround exists; patching is the only supported remediation.
Limit local code execution opportunities by restricting which applications users can install and run.
Verify that FileVault and TCC permissions are configured to minimize exposure of sensitive directories.

bash

# Verify the installed macOS build meets the patched version
sw_vers -productVersion

# Trigger software update check and install available updates
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart