CVE-2024-23267 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows an application to bypass certain Privacy preferences, potentially granting unauthorized access to protected user data or system features. The flaw stems from insufficient enforcement of privacy controls, classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control). Exploitation requires local access with user interaction but no elevated privileges, making it a vector for malicious or compromised apps to circumvent privacy restrictions. The vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions prior to the patched releases: Sonoma 14.4, Monterey 12.7.4, and Ventura 13.6.5. Apple addressed the issue by implementing improved checks to enforce privacy preferences more robustly. The CVSS v3.1 score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is local (AV:L), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R). The impact is high on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized data access or privacy violations if exploited. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for environments where sensitive data protection is critical and where macOS devices are widely used.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-23267 is the potential unauthorized access to sensitive or private information due to bypassed privacy controls on macOS devices. This can lead to data leakage, privacy violations, and potential regulatory non-compliance, especially under GDPR. Although the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach can undermine trust and expose organizations to reputational damage and legal consequences. Organizations with employees using macOS devices for handling sensitive data, including government agencies, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and technology firms, face increased risk. The requirement for user interaction reduces the risk of automated widespread exploitation but does not eliminate targeted attacks or insider threats. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests a window for proactive mitigation before active exploitation occurs.

1. Apply the latest macOS updates immediately: Sonoma 14.4, Monterey 12.7.4, and Ventura 13.6.5 or later, which contain the fix for this vulnerability. 2. Restrict installation of applications to trusted sources such as the Mac App Store or verified developers to reduce the risk of malicious apps exploiting this flaw. 3. Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted applications or links that may trigger exploitation attempts. 4. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring unusual app behavior or unauthorized access attempts to privacy-protected resources. 5. Enforce strict privacy settings and regularly audit app permissions to ensure no unauthorized access is granted. 6. For organizations with sensitive data, consider additional controls such as network segmentation and data loss prevention (DLP) to limit exposure from compromised devices. 7. Monitor security advisories from Apple and threat intelligence sources for any emerging exploit activity related to this vulnerability.