CVE-2025-24258 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS stemming from a permissions issue that allows a local application to gain root privileges. The vulnerability was addressed by Apple through additional restrictions in macOS Sequoia 15.4, Ventura 13.7.6, and Sonoma 14.7.6. The flaw is categorized under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management), indicating that the system failed to enforce proper access controls, enabling privilege escalation. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high severity, with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. This means the attack requires local access (AV:L), low complexity (AC:L), low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level (C:H/I:H/A:H). The vulnerability allows an attacker who already has limited local access to escalate privileges to root, gaining full control over the system. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential impact is significant, especially in environments where macOS is used for sensitive operations. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions prior to the patched releases, so any macOS system not updated to the fixed versions remains at risk. The issue highlights the importance of strict permission enforcement in operating systems to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a critical risk as it enables local attackers or malicious insiders to gain root privileges on macOS systems, compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and services. Organizations relying on macOS for development, creative work, or administrative tasks could see unauthorized access to sensitive information, disruption of services, or deployment of persistent malware with root-level control. The impact extends to sectors with high-value targets such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, where macOS devices are increasingly used. The ability to escalate privileges without user interaction increases the risk of automated or stealthy attacks. Additionally, compromised macOS systems could serve as pivot points for lateral movement within corporate networks, amplifying the threat. The absence of known exploits in the wild does not diminish the urgency, as threat actors may develop exploits rapidly once the vulnerability is public. Thus, European entities must act swiftly to mitigate potential damage.

1. Immediately update all macOS systems to the patched versions: macOS Sequoia 15.4, Ventura 13.7.6, or Sonoma 14.7.6. 2. Restrict local application installation privileges to trusted users and enforce strict application whitelisting policies to reduce the risk of malicious apps gaining initial access. 3. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for unusual privilege escalation attempts and anomalous root-level activities. 4. Conduct regular audits of user permissions and installed applications to identify and remove unauthorized or suspicious software. 5. Employ macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Full Disk Encryption (FileVault) to limit the impact of potential exploits. 6. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted software and the importance of reporting unusual system behavior. 7. For highly sensitive environments, consider network segmentation to isolate macOS devices and limit lateral movement opportunities. 8. Monitor security advisories from Apple and threat intelligence sources for updates or emerging exploit information related to this vulnerability.