CVE-2024-46062 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Miniconda3 macOS installers before version 23.11.0-1. The flaw occurs when the installer is executed outside the user's home directory, leading to the creation of world-writable files that are subsequently executed with root privileges. This insecure file permission setting (CWE-732) combined with command injection potential (CWE-77) allows a local attacker with low privileges to inject arbitrary commands during installation. These commands run with root-level permissions, enabling full system compromise. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require local access and low privileges. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 reflects a high severity due to the ease of exploitation (low complexity), no user interaction, and the critical impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public exploits are known, the vulnerability poses a significant risk in environments where Miniconda3 is installed on macOS systems outside the user’s home directory. The root cause is the installer’s failure to securely handle file permissions and execution context during installation. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for organizations using Miniconda3 for Python environment management in data science, research, or software development on macOS platforms.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to full system compromise on macOS machines where Miniconda3 is installed improperly. Attackers with local access could escalate privileges to root, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of critical services, or deployment of persistent malware. This is especially concerning for organizations relying on macOS for development, scientific computing, or data analysis, where Miniconda3 is commonly used. The breach of confidentiality, integrity, and availability could affect intellectual property, personal data, and operational continuity. Additionally, compromised developer or analyst workstations could serve as pivot points for broader network intrusions. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, particularly in environments with multiple users or shared systems.

European organizations should enforce installation of Miniconda3 strictly within user home directories to avoid triggering the vulnerability. Until patched versions are available, restrict local user permissions to prevent unauthorized installation outside home directories. Conduct audits of existing Miniconda3 installations on macOS to identify any that reside outside user home directories and reinstall them correctly. Implement file system monitoring to detect creation of world-writable files during installation processes. Educate users and administrators about the risks of installing software with elevated privileges outside secure paths. Once patches are released, prioritize updating all affected Miniconda3 installations. Consider deploying endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting suspicious local privilege escalation attempts. Finally, maintain strict local user access controls and minimize the number of users with installation privileges on macOS systems.