CVE-2024-23233 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that involves improper enforcement of entitlements and privacy permissions. Entitlements in macOS define the capabilities and access rights granted to applications, while privacy permissions control access to sensitive user data and system resources. This vulnerability allows a malicious app to leverage the entitlements and privacy permissions granted to another legitimate app, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries. The root cause relates to insufficient validation and checks when an app attempts to use or escalate privileges based on entitlements assigned to another app. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, modification of data, or disruption of system functionality. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8, indicating high severity, with attack vector local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction required (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Apple addressed this issue in macOS Sonoma 14.4 by implementing improved entitlement and privacy permission checks to prevent malicious apps from abusing permissions granted to other apps. No public exploits are currently known, but the vulnerability's nature makes it a significant risk for targeted local attacks.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, intellectual property, or personal information on macOS devices. Attackers with local access could exploit this flaw to escalate privileges, bypass privacy controls, and potentially install persistent malware or exfiltrate data. This risk is particularly critical for sectors handling sensitive information such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure. The compromise of macOS endpoints could also facilitate lateral movement within networks, increasing the overall attack surface. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, exploitation could result in significant operational disruption, data breaches, and regulatory compliance violations under GDPR. Organizations relying heavily on Apple ecosystems for endpoint devices or development environments are at increased risk.

European organizations should immediately prioritize updating all macOS devices to version Sonoma 14.4 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible, restrict local access to macOS systems and enforce strict user privilege management to minimize the risk of malicious app installation. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring unusual app behavior and privilege escalations. Conduct regular audits of installed applications and their entitlements to detect unauthorized or suspicious apps. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted software and the importance of user interaction in exploitation scenarios. Additionally, implement application whitelisting and use Apple's System Integrity Protection (SIP) to limit unauthorized modifications. Network segmentation can also reduce the impact of a compromised macOS device within an organization.