CVE-2024-40800: Apple macOS · An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system
Affects Apple macOSSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.4 High · fixed in 12.7.6 : patch Apple macOS soon.
Data as of 25 Oct 2026, 19:02 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 27% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 12.7.6
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 29 Jul 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-25.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Apple macOS | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
1. Immediately update all affected macOS systems to the patched versions: Monterey 12.7.6, Sonoma 14.6, or Ventura 13.6.8. 2. Restrict installation of applications to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store or verified developers to reduce the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. 3. Implement application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions that monitor and block unauthorized attempts to modify protected system files. 4. Enforce strict user privilege management to limit local user capabilities and reduce the attack surface. 5. Conduct regular system integrity checks and file system monitoring to detect unauthorized changes to critical system files. 6. Educate users about the risks of running untrusted applications and the importance of applying system updates promptly. 7. For high-security environments, consider deploying macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Endpoint Security Framework to enhance protection against unauthorized modifications. 8. Maintain up-to-date backups to enable recovery in case of compromise. These steps, combined with timely patching, will significantly reduce the risk posed by this vulnerability.
Description
An input validation issue was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.7.6, macOS Sonoma 14.6, macOS Ventura 13.6.8. An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system.
References
- support.apple.com/en-us/120910 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/120911 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/120912 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT214120 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT214119 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/en-us/HT214118 (opens in a new tab)
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Jul/20 (opens in a new tab)
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Jul/18 (opens in a new tab)
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Jul/19 (opens in a new tab)
- talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2024-2010 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT214120 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT214119 (opens in a new tab)
- support.apple.com/kb/HT214118 (opens in a new tab)