CVE-2024-54565 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS identified as CWE-284 (Improper Access Control). The issue arises because an application running on the affected macOS versions can bypass certain access control checks and gain unauthorized access to sensitive user data. This vulnerability does not require the app to have elevated privileges or user interaction, making exploitation easier for local attackers or malicious apps already installed on the system. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.2, reflecting a medium severity level primarily due to the confidentiality impact (high), with no impact on integrity or availability. The attack vector is local (AV:L), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability affects all macOS versions prior to Sequoia 15.2, where Apple has implemented improved access control checks to prevent unauthorized data access. No public exploits or active exploitation campaigns have been reported to date. This vulnerability highlights the importance of strict access control enforcement in operating systems to protect sensitive user information from unauthorized local applications.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-54565 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on affected macOS systems. This can lead to privacy violations, leakage of confidential information, and potential downstream attacks if the exposed data includes credentials or personal identifiers. Since the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the risk is confined to confidentiality breaches. However, given the widespread use of macOS in enterprise, creative industries, and government environments, the exposure of sensitive data could have significant operational and reputational consequences. Attackers with local access, such as through malicious apps or compromised user accounts, can exploit this vulnerability to harvest data without alerting the user. The absence of required privileges or user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing risk in environments where endpoint security is weak or where users install untrusted software. Organizations relying on macOS for sensitive workloads should consider this a moderate risk until patched.

To mitigate CVE-2024-54565, organizations and users should immediately update all affected macOS systems to version Sequoia 15.2 or later, where Apple has fixed the access control checks. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application control policies to prevent installation or execution of untrusted or unsigned applications that could exploit local vulnerabilities. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring suspicious local app behaviors and unauthorized data access attempts. Regularly audit installed applications and remove unnecessary or potentially risky software. Implement least privilege principles for user accounts to limit the impact of local exploits. Additionally, educate users about the risks of installing software from unverified sources. For high-security environments, consider using macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and sandboxing to further restrict app capabilities. Continuous monitoring for anomalous access patterns to sensitive data can help detect exploitation attempts early.