CVE-2024-27825 is a vulnerability identified in Intel-based Apple macOS systems that allows an application to bypass certain Privacy preferences. The root cause is a downgrade issue, which means that an attacker could exploit older or less restrictive code-signing policies to circumvent privacy controls. Apple addressed this vulnerability by implementing additional code-signing restrictions in macOS Sonoma 14.5, effectively closing the bypass vector. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-277 (Improper Privilege Management), indicating that the system fails to enforce proper access controls. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting a high severity level, with the vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and a scope change (S:C) that affects confidentiality and integrity with high impact (C:H/I:H) but no impact on availability (A:N). This means an attacker with local access to the system could exploit the vulnerability without needing elevated privileges or user interaction, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information protected by privacy preferences. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions of macOS on Intel hardware, emphasizing the need for patching. No known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, but the potential for abuse exists, especially in environments where sensitive data is protected by macOS privacy controls.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-27825 can be significant, especially for those relying on Intel-based Macs for sensitive operations. The ability for an app to bypass privacy preferences threatens the confidentiality and integrity of user data, potentially exposing personal information, corporate secrets, or other sensitive content. This could lead to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), and reputational damage. Since the vulnerability does not require user interaction or privileges, it lowers the barrier for exploitation by malicious insiders or malware that gains local access. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and technology, which often use macOS devices, may face increased risk. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits once the vulnerability details are public. The scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that the vulnerability can affect system-wide confidentiality and integrity, amplifying potential damage.

To mitigate CVE-2024-27825, European organizations should: 1) Immediately update all Intel-based macOS systems to macOS Sonoma 14.5 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. 2) Enforce strict application code-signing policies and verify that only trusted, signed applications are allowed to run, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting the downgrade issue. 3) Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for anomalous app behavior that might indicate attempts to bypass privacy controls. 4) Educate users and IT staff about the importance of installing updates promptly and recognizing suspicious application activity. 5) Restrict local access to macOS devices, especially in shared or public environments, to minimize opportunities for local exploitation. 6) Regularly audit privacy preference settings and system logs to detect unauthorized changes or access attempts. 7) Consider deploying additional macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Full Disk Encryption to limit the impact of potential breaches.