CVE-2024-54537 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS that allows an application to bypass sandbox restrictions and read or write files outside its designated sandbox environment. The root cause is insufficient entitlement checks, which are security mechanisms that control app permissions and access boundaries. This flaw enables a malicious or compromised app to access sensitive files or modify data beyond its intended scope, potentially leading to unauthorized data disclosure or integrity violations. The vulnerability affects macOS versions prior to Sequoia 15.2, Sonoma 14.7.2, and Ventura 13.7.2, where Apple has implemented additional entitlement checks to mitigate the issue. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.1, indicating high severity, with an attack vector of local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality and integrity is high (C:H/I:H), with no impact on availability (A:N). There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication. This vulnerability can be exploited by tricking a user into running a malicious app or code that leverages the entitlement bypass to access or modify files outside the sandbox, potentially compromising user data and system integrity. The fix involves enhanced entitlement checks that enforce stricter sandbox boundaries.

The vulnerability allows unauthorized read and write access to files outside an app’s sandbox, which can lead to significant confidentiality and integrity breaches. Sensitive user data, system files, or application data could be exposed or altered by malicious apps, undermining user privacy and system trustworthiness. For organizations, this could result in data leakage, intellectual property theft, or tampering with critical files, potentially disrupting workflows or enabling further attacks. Since exploitation requires local access and user interaction, the threat is primarily from malicious insiders, compromised user accounts, or social engineering attacks delivering malicious apps. The lack of required privileges lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing risk. Although availability is not impacted, the breach of confidentiality and integrity can have severe consequences, especially for enterprises handling sensitive information or regulated data. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, making timely patching critical.

1. Apply the latest macOS updates immediately: upgrade to macOS Sequoia 15.2, Sonoma 14.7.2, Ventura 13.7.2, or later versions where the vulnerability is fixed. 2. Restrict app installations to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store or verified developers to reduce the risk of malicious apps. 3. Implement strict endpoint security controls that monitor and restrict file system access patterns, especially for apps requesting unusual permissions or accessing files outside their sandbox. 4. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and the importance of verifying app sources to prevent social engineering exploitation. 5. Use macOS built-in security features like System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Full Disk Encryption (FileVault) to limit damage from unauthorized file access. 6. Employ application whitelisting and runtime behavior monitoring to detect and block suspicious activities related to file access outside sandbox boundaries. 7. Regularly audit installed applications and their entitlements to identify and remove potentially vulnerable or unnecessary software. 8. For organizations, integrate vulnerability management processes that prioritize patching of high-severity macOS vulnerabilities and maintain asset inventories to track affected systems.