CVE-2025-24176 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability identified in Apple macOS, specifically addressed in versions Ventura 13.7.3, Sequoia 15.3, and Sonoma 14.7.3. The root cause is a permissions issue categorized under CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions), where insufficient validation of permissions allows a local attacker to gain elevated privileges. This flaw does not require user interaction and can be exploited by an attacker with limited privileges (PR:L) on the affected system. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity by enabling unauthorized access to system resources or sensitive data, although it does not affect availability. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.1, indicating high severity, with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date, but the vulnerability’s characteristics make it a significant risk if left unpatched. The issue was resolved by Apple through improved permission validation in the specified macOS versions. Organizations running vulnerable macOS versions should apply these updates immediately to prevent potential exploitation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of systems running affected macOS versions. Local attackers, including malicious insiders or compromised low-privilege accounts, could leverage this flaw to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or system controls. This could lead to data breaches, unauthorized configuration changes, or further lateral movement within networks. Critical sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and technology companies that rely on macOS devices for daily operations may face increased exposure. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially given the high severity and ease of exploitation once local access is obtained. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces using macOS devices should be particularly vigilant, as endpoint compromise could facilitate exploitation. Failure to patch promptly could result in significant operational and reputational damage.

1. Immediately apply the security updates provided by Apple for macOS Ventura 13.7.3, Sequoia 15.3, and Sonoma 14.7.3 to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Conduct an audit of local user accounts and permissions to identify and restrict unnecessary privileges, minimizing the attack surface for local privilege escalation. 3. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for unusual privilege escalation attempts or suspicious local activity. 4. Enforce strict access controls and use macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and FileVault to limit unauthorized modifications and protect data at rest. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of local privilege escalation and the importance of maintaining updated systems. 6. Regularly review and update security policies to ensure rapid deployment of patches and timely response to emerging vulnerabilities. 7. For environments with sensitive data, consider additional monitoring of logs and alerts for privilege escalation indicators. 8. Limit physical and remote access to macOS devices to trusted personnel only, reducing the likelihood of local attacker presence.