CVE-2024-40801 is a permissions-related vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows an application with limited privileges to access protected user data improperly. The root cause is a permissions issue that was insufficiently restrictive, enabling apps to bypass intended access controls. Apple addressed this vulnerability by adding further restrictions in macOS Sonoma 14.7 and macOS Sequoia 15. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited locally by an app running with low privileges, which increases the risk of stealthy data access. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level, with the vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), low privileges required (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), and no impact on integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported to date. The vulnerability primarily threatens the confidentiality of user data stored or managed by macOS, potentially exposing sensitive information to unauthorized applications. The fix involves updating to the specified macOS versions where Apple has implemented additional permission restrictions to prevent unauthorized data access.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk to the confidentiality of sensitive user data on macOS devices. Organizations with employees or systems running affected macOS versions could have their data exposed to malicious or compromised applications operating with limited privileges. This could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, potentially violating data protection regulations such as GDPR. The impact is particularly relevant for sectors handling sensitive personal or corporate data, including finance, healthcare, and government. Although the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach could result in reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and loss of trust. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the medium severity and ease of local exploitation warrant proactive mitigation. The threat is heightened in environments where endpoint security controls are weak or where users install untrusted applications.

1. Immediately update all macOS devices to macOS Sonoma 14.7, macOS Sequoia 15, or later versions containing the patch for CVE-2024-40801. 2. Enforce strict application installation policies, allowing only trusted and vetted applications to run, minimizing the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. 3. Implement endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting unusual app behaviors or unauthorized data access attempts. 4. Regularly audit and monitor macOS system permissions and access controls to ensure no unauthorized privilege escalations or data access occur. 5. Educate users about the risks of installing unverified applications and encourage adherence to organizational security policies. 6. Use Mobile Device Management (MDM) tools to enforce security configurations and timely patch deployment across all macOS endpoints. 7. Monitor security advisories from Apple and threat intelligence sources for any emerging exploit activity related to this vulnerability.