CVE-2024-42441 is a vulnerability categorized under CWE-266 (Incorrect Privilege Assignment) affecting several Zoom products on macOS: Zoom Workplace Desktop App, Zoom Meeting SDK, and Zoom Rooms Client, all versions prior to 6.1.5. The root cause lies in the installer improperly assigning privileges, which can be exploited by a user who already has elevated local privileges to escalate those privileges further, potentially gaining unauthorized administrative control over the system. The vulnerability requires local access and a user with high privileges but does not require any user interaction, making it a straightforward escalation vector once local access is obtained. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.2, indicating medium severity, with the vector string AV:P/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, meaning the attack vector is local, attack complexity is low, privileges required are high, no user interaction is needed, and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to compromise sensitive data, alter system configurations, or disrupt system availability by leveraging the privilege escalation. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the presence of this flaw in widely used Zoom macOS clients makes it a notable risk. The vulnerability was published on August 14, 2024, and Zoom has released version 6.1.5 to address the issue, though no direct patch links were provided in the source data. Organizations using these affected Zoom products on macOS should prioritize updating to the fixed version to prevent potential exploitation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-42441 can be significant, especially for those relying heavily on Zoom's macOS applications for communication and collaboration. The vulnerability allows a privileged local user to escalate their privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise. This can result in unauthorized access to confidential communications, sensitive corporate data, and intellectual property. The integrity of systems could be undermined by unauthorized changes to configurations or software, and availability could be disrupted by malicious actions such as service interruptions or system crashes. Organizations in sectors with strict data protection requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and government, face heightened risks due to potential breaches of confidentiality and compliance violations under regulations like GDPR. The requirement for local privileged access limits remote exploitation but insider threats or compromised local accounts could leverage this vulnerability. Given the widespread use of Zoom in European enterprises and public institutions, failure to remediate could lead to targeted attacks exploiting this flaw to gain deeper system control.

To mitigate CVE-2024-42441, European organizations should immediately update all affected Zoom macOS applications to version 6.1.5 or later, where the privilege assignment issue is resolved. Beyond patching, organizations should audit local user privileges on macOS systems to ensure that only necessary users have elevated rights, minimizing the pool of potential attackers who could exploit this vulnerability. Implement strict endpoint security controls, including application whitelisting and monitoring for unusual privilege escalation attempts. Employ macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions to detect and block suspicious activities. Regularly review and enforce least privilege principles for all users and service accounts. Additionally, conduct security awareness training to reduce insider threat risks and ensure that local access is tightly controlled and monitored. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from any potential compromise resulting from privilege escalation.