CVE-2025-24277 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS stemming from a parsing issue in the handling of directory paths. Specifically, the system's path validation mechanism was insufficient, allowing a malicious application to manipulate directory paths in a way that could escalate its privileges to root level. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions), indicating that the system granted excessive privileges due to improper validation. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, as an attacker must run a malicious app on the target system. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high severity with the vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, meaning the attack is local, requires low complexity, no privileges, but does require user interaction, and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level. The flaw affects macOS versions prior to Ventura 13.7.5, Sequoia 15.4, and Sonoma 14.7.5, where Apple has implemented improved path validation to fix the issue. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the potential for privilege escalation to root makes this a critical concern. The vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to gain full control over affected systems, bypassing security controls and potentially deploying persistent malware or stealing sensitive data.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for local attackers or malicious insiders to escalate privileges to root on macOS systems. This could lead to full system compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of services, and the ability to bypass security controls. Organizations relying on macOS for critical operations, including government agencies, financial institutions, and technology firms, could face data breaches, operational downtime, and reputational damage. The requirement for user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where users may be targeted with social engineering or malicious software. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate threat but does not preclude future exploitation. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, making timely patching essential to prevent potential attacks.

1. Immediately apply the security updates released by Apple for macOS Ventura 13.7.5, Sequoia 15.4, and Sonoma 14.7.5 or later versions to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Restrict installation of applications to trusted sources, such as the Apple App Store or enterprise-approved software repositories, to reduce the risk of malicious apps executing. 3. Implement endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting suspicious local privilege escalation attempts and anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation. 4. Educate users about the risks of running untrusted applications and the importance of avoiding social engineering attacks that could lead to execution of malicious code. 5. Employ application whitelisting and macOS security features like System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Gatekeeper to limit unauthorized code execution. 6. Monitor system logs for unusual activity related to directory path handling or privilege escalation attempts. 7. For organizations with macOS fleets, consider deploying Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to enforce patch compliance and security policies.