CVE-2024-54471 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple's macOS. This vulnerability allows a malicious application to leak a user's credentials, which poses a significant risk to user privacy and security. The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 5.5, indicating that while it does not represent the highest level of threat, it still requires urgent attention from security teams. Organizations using affected versions of macOS should prioritize remediation efforts to mitigate the risk.
The vulnerability was first published on December 12, 2024, and has since been modified. Apple has addressed this issue with additional entitlement checks in macOS Sequoia 15.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, and macOS Ventura 13.7.1. Organizations are urged to apply the necessary patches immediately to prevent potential exploitation.
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive user credentials, which could lead to further exploitation and data breaches. With the potential for credential leaks, attackers may gain elevated access to sensitive information and systems. Therefore, it is critical for organizations to conduct thorough vulnerability assessments and patch affected systems promptly.
As of now, there is no known public exploit for this vulnerability, but the risks associated with credential leaks necessitate immediate attention. Organizations should remain vigilant and monitor their systems for any signs of exploitation.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is described as an issue that was addressed with additional entitlement checks. It is classified under CWE-522, indicating improper restriction of excessive privileges. The vulnerability impacts macOS, specifically versions prior to the vendor patch, including macOS Sequoia 15.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, and macOS Ventura 13.7.1. The CVSS score of 5.5 reflects a medium severity, indicating a combination of low attack complexity and high confidentiality impact.
Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as a local attack vector, meaning it requires local access to the system for exploitation. The attack complexity is low, and the privileges required are also low, making it easier for an attacker to exploit. No user interaction is required, which further increases the risk. The confidentiality impact is high, as sensitive user credentials may be leaked, while the integrity and availability impacts are none.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with this vulnerability is significant. If exploited, it could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive user information, resulting in potential data breaches. Organizations with high-profile applications or those handling sensitive data should consider this a critical issue. Given the medium CVSS score and the confidentiality impact, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle.
Moreover, with an EPSS score of 0.0012, the probability of exploitation in the wild is relatively low, but organizations should not underestimate the potential consequences of credential leaks. The urgency for remediation should align with the specific context and operational environment of the organization.
Organizations should schedule remediation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions prior to vendor patch are affected, which includes macOS versions before 13.7.1 and from 14.0 to 14.7.1. Organizations should ensure that they upgrade to the latest versions of macOS to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Apple has released patches in macOS Sequoia 15.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, and macOS Ventura 13.7.1. Organizations should upgrade to these versions to address the vulnerability. In cases where immediate patching is not possible, organizations can implement workarounds, such as restricting access to affected systems and monitoring for unusual account activity. Additionally, configuration hardening and network controls should be employed to minimize exposure.
For more detailed guidance, organizations can refer to the penetration testing services offered to assess vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of unauthorized access attempts and changes to user credentials. Behavioral anomalies in user account activities should also be scrutinized, along with network signatures that may indicate exploitation attempts. System changes that do not correlate with authorized activities should be flagged for further investigation.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-54471 lies in its potential to expose user credentials, which remains a pertinent threat across various platforms. This vulnerability represents a pattern of credential leakage that organizations must be prepared to address proactively. Security teams should take this incident as a lesson to enhance their defensive measures against similar vulnerabilities in the future.
To strengthen their security posture, organizations can explore vulnerability management programs and implement best practices for application security. Additionally, leveraging penetration testing methodologies can help in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
Moreover, teams should consider adopting AI-driven security solutions to enhance threat detection and response capabilities.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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