CVE-2024-27885

Protected file modification via unvalidated symlinks

Published Jun 10, 2024 · Updated Apr 2, 2026

Symlink validation failure in PackageKit in Apple macOS before 12.7.5, 13.6.7, and 14.5 allows local users to modify protected files. PackageKit follows an app-controlled symbolic link without adequately validating its destination before a privileged file operation. Execution of a local app and a crafted symlink are required, and the resulting write crosses file-system protections without a reported confidentiality or availability impact.

CVSS severity6.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Symlink validation failure in PackageKit in Apple macOS before 12.7.5, 13.6.7, and 14.5 allows local users to modify protected files. PackageKit follows an app-controlled symbolic link without adequately validating its destination before a privileged file operation. Execution of a local app and a crafted symlink are required, and the resulting write crosses file-system protections without a reported confidentiality or availability impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-27885
Published
Jun 10, 2024
Updated
Apr 2, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-59, T1548
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 10, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 2, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <12.7.5
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <13.6.7
  3. Affected versionversion=0 <14.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=0 <12.7.5; version=0 <13.6.7; version=0 <14.5

Published CVSS scores

6.3CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1548Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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