CVE-2024-54498 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS stemming from improper path handling that allows an application to break out of its sandbox environment. The sandbox is a critical security mechanism that restricts applications to a limited set of resources and privileges, preventing them from affecting the broader system or accessing unauthorized data. This flaw arises due to insufficient validation of file system paths, which an attacker can exploit to escape these restrictions. The vulnerability affects multiple macOS versions before the release of Sequoia 15.2, Ventura 13.7.2, and Sonoma 14.7.2, where Apple has implemented improved validation to address the issue. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 indicates a high severity, reflecting the vulnerability’s potential to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Exploitation requires local access with low privileges (AV:L, PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), but the scope is changed (S:C), meaning the attacker can gain higher privileges or affect other components beyond the sandbox. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk because sandbox escapes can lead to privilege escalation and full system compromise. This makes it particularly dangerous in environments where untrusted or third-party applications are run. The technical root cause is a path handling issue, which typically involves improper sanitization or validation of file paths, allowing traversal or manipulation to bypass sandbox controls. Apple’s patches improve validation logic to close this attack vector.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-54498 can be substantial. Organizations relying on macOS devices for sensitive operations, including government agencies, financial institutions, and technology companies, face risks of unauthorized data access, system manipulation, and potential lateral movement within networks. A successful sandbox escape can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to data breaches, ransomware deployment, or disruption of critical services. The vulnerability’s local attack vector means that initial access is required, but once inside, the attacker’s capabilities increase dramatically. This is particularly concerning for organizations with bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies or those that allow installation of third-party applications without strict controls. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive patching, but the high severity score underscores the urgency. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value European targets, especially where macOS is prevalent. The impact extends to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, making this a comprehensive threat to affected systems.

The primary mitigation is to apply the security updates released by Apple in macOS Sequoia 15.2, Ventura 13.7.2, and Sonoma 14.7.2 immediately. Organizations should enforce patch management policies to ensure all macOS devices are updated promptly. Beyond patching, organizations should restrict application installation to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store or vetted enterprise software repositories to reduce the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. Implementing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions that monitor for unusual sandbox escape behaviors can help detect exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be applied to limit the potential damage if a sandbox escape occurs. For environments with BYOD policies, consider enforcing stricter device compliance checks and application whitelisting. Regular security awareness training can help users recognize suspicious activity or unauthorized software installations. Finally, organizations should review and harden their macOS security configurations, including System Integrity Protection (SIP) and application sandboxing policies, to reduce attack surface.