CVE-2024-23275 is a race condition vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that could allow a malicious application to access protected user data improperly. The root cause is a timing issue where the system fails to validate access permissions correctly during concurrent operations, classified under CWE-362 (Race Condition). This flaw enables an app, without requiring privileges, to potentially read sensitive information it should not access. The vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions prior to the patched releases: Sonoma 14.4, Monterey 12.7.4, and Ventura 13.6.5. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.7 (medium severity), reflecting that exploitation requires local access (Attack Vector: Local), high attack complexity, no privileges, and user interaction. The impact is primarily on confidentiality, with no direct effect on integrity or availability. Apple addressed the issue by adding additional validation checks to prevent the race condition. No public exploit code or active exploitation has been reported, but the vulnerability poses a risk to user data confidentiality if exploited. Organizations relying on macOS should apply the security updates promptly to mitigate this risk.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk to the confidentiality of sensitive user data on macOS devices. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure that use Apple hardware and software could face data leakage risks if devices remain unpatched. Although exploitation requires local access and user interaction, insider threats or malware delivered via phishing could leverage this flaw to escalate data access. The medium severity rating indicates moderate risk, but the potential exposure of protected data could lead to compliance issues under GDPR and damage to organizational reputation. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the presence of a race condition vulnerability in widely used operating systems necessitates proactive patching and monitoring. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces using macOS endpoints should ensure update deployment to reduce attack surface.

1. Deploy the official Apple security updates for macOS Sonoma 14.4, Monterey 12.7.4, and Ventura 13.6.5 or later immediately to all affected systems. 2. Restrict installation of applications to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store or verified developers to reduce risk of malicious apps exploiting the vulnerability. 3. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for anomalous local app behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Educate users on the risks of executing untrusted applications and the importance of user interaction in exploitation scenarios. 5. Enforce strict access controls and least privilege principles on macOS devices to limit the ability of low-privilege apps to access sensitive data. 6. Regularly audit and inventory macOS devices within the organization to ensure compliance with patching policies. 7. Consider network segmentation and data encryption to further protect sensitive data in case of local compromise.