CVE-2024-54465 is a critical security vulnerability identified in Apple macOS, specifically addressed in the macOS Sequoia 15.2 update. The root cause is a logic flaw involving improper state management, which can be exploited by a malicious application to elevate its privileges on the affected system. This means an attacker could gain unauthorized access to higher privilege levels, potentially allowing full control over the system, including access to sensitive data, system integrity compromise, and disruption of availability. The vulnerability does not require any user interaction or prior authentication, making it highly exploitable remotely or locally by any app running on the system. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the vulnerability’s critical nature, with metrics indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality (C:H), integrity (I:H), and availability (A:H). Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the vulnerability’s characteristics suggest it could be weaponized quickly. The CWE-281 classification corresponds to improper authorization, highlighting the logic error in privilege checks. This vulnerability affects unspecified versions of macOS prior to Sequoia 15.2, so all organizations running older versions are potentially vulnerable. The lack of patch links suggests the update is only available through official Apple channels. Organizations relying on macOS should prioritize upgrading to Sequoia 15.2 to remediate this issue.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-54465 is substantial. Successful exploitation allows attackers to gain elevated privileges without authentication or user interaction, enabling full system compromise. This can lead to unauthorized access to confidential information, disruption of critical services, and the potential for persistent footholds within enterprise environments. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure that use macOS devices for sensitive operations are particularly at risk. The vulnerability could facilitate lateral movement within networks, data exfiltration, and deployment of ransomware or other malware. Given the high macOS adoption in certain European countries and the critical nature of affected systems, the threat could disrupt business continuity and damage reputations. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a narrow window for mitigation before attackers develop weaponized code. Organizations that delay patching risk exposure to automated attacks and targeted intrusions.

1. Immediately upgrade all macOS systems to macOS Sequoia 15.2 or later, as this update contains the fix for CVE-2024-54465. 2. Enforce strict application whitelisting and limit installation of apps to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store or enterprise-signed applications. 3. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for unusual privilege escalation behaviors and anomalous process activities. 4. Implement network segmentation to limit the spread of potential compromises originating from macOS devices. 5. Regularly audit and review user privileges and system configurations to detect and remediate unauthorized changes. 6. Educate IT and security teams about this vulnerability to ensure rapid response and patch deployment. 7. Monitor threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploits targeting this vulnerability to adjust defenses accordingly. 8. Consider deploying macOS-specific security tools that can enforce runtime protections and sandboxing to reduce exploitation risk.