VulnerabilityPublished 11 Dec 2024Updated 2 Apr 2026

CVE-2024-54524: Apple macOS · Type Confusion

Affects Apple macOSSource CVE Database V5

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 15.2 : update Apple macOS when convenient.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 10:12 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score

5.5Medium

How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

EPSS: 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 14% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch: Available – fixed in 15.2

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: High
Integrity: None
Availability: None

Bold values are the worst case: easiest to exploit or largest impact.

Attack Vector: Local: The vulnerable component is not bound to the network stack and the attacker’s path is via read/write/execute capabilities. Either: the attacker exploits the vulnerability by accessing the target system locally (e.g., keyboard, console), or remotely (e.g., SSH); or the attacker relies on User Interaction by another person to perform actions required to exploit the vulnerability (e.g., tricking a legitimate user into opening a malicious document).
Attack Complexity: Low: Specialized access conditions or extenuating circumstances do not exist. An attacker can expect repeatable success against the vulnerable component.
Privileges Required: None: The attacker is unauthorized prior to attack, and therefore does not require any access to settings or files to carry out an attack.
User Interaction: Required: Successful exploitation of this vulnerability requires a user to take some action before the vulnerability can be exploited.
Scope: Unchanged: An exploited vulnerability can only affect resources managed by the same security authority. In this case, the vulnerable component and the impacted component are either the same, or both are managed by the same security authority.
Confidentiality: High: There is total loss of confidentiality, resulting in all resources within the impacted component being divulged to the attacker. Alternatively, access to only some restricted information is obtained, but the disclosed information presents a direct, serious impact.
Integrity: None: There is no loss of integrity within the impacted component.
Availability: None: There is no impact to availability within the impacted component.

Definitions: FIRST CVSS v3.1 specification.

Exploitation evidence

Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 11 Dec 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.

Disclosed: The CVE record is public on cve.org. Its publication is t = 0.
Detectable: A public nuclei template can find exposed instances, for defenders and attackers alike.
Weaponised: Public exploit code exists in Metasploit or Exploit-DB, or CISA SSVC or the CVSS exploit maturity reports a public proof of concept.
Exploited in the wild: CISA KEV lists it, CISA SSVC rates exploitation active, or a source reports attacks.
Observed by OffSeq Mirage: OffSeq Mirage honeypot sensors recorded attack traffic for this CVE, or found exposed hosts without attack traffic.

Moments are spaced evenly, not to scale; a dashed line marks a gap of six months or more. Deltas count from t = 0. Sources that give only a date (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, or a time of exactly 00:00Z) read “same day” rather than hours. Metasploit modules carry the flaw’s disclosure date, not their release date, and nuclei templates carry no date, so both appear above but not on the timeline.

What to do

Affected software

Product	Affected	Fixed in
Apple macOS	Affected =0	Fixed in–

AI-suggested

To mitigate CVE-2024-54524, organizations and users should immediately update all macOS devices to version Sequoia 15.2 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. Restrict software installation to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store or verified developers to reduce the risk of malicious app installation. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting suspicious local app behaviors and enforce least privilege principles to limit app capabilities. Conduct user awareness training to prevent installation of untrusted applications and recognize social engineering attempts. Implement application whitelisting and sandboxing where feasible to contain app access to files. Regularly audit file access logs and monitor for unusual file read patterns. For high-security environments, consider additional controls such as data encryption at rest and strict access control policies to minimize exposure if arbitrary file access occurs.

Description

A logic issue was addressed with improved file handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.2. A malicious app may be able to access arbitrary files.

Impact

The primary impact of CVE-2024-54524 is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information due to arbitrary file access by a malicious app. This can lead to leakage of confidential user data, intellectual property, or system files, potentially facilitating further attacks such as social engineering or targeted espionage. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, it does not directly enable data modification or system disruption. However, the confidentiality breach alone can have severe consequences for individuals and organizations, especially those handling sensitive or regulated data. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, particularly in environments where users may install untrusted software. Organizations relying on macOS devices for critical operations or storing sensitive information face increased risk if devices are not promptly updated. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate threat but vigilance is necessary as attackers may develop exploits post-disclosure.

References

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Exploitation evidence

What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 3 Apr 2026, 00:22 UTC

WeaknessesCWE-843

Technical details

References

Community reviews

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