CVE-2024-40834Public exploit

Arbitrary command execution via shell-profile file write

Published Jul 29, 2024 · Updated Apr 2, 2026

Authorization bypass in Apple macOS allows local users to execute commands through a crafted, signed shortcut without script permission. The shortcut's file actions save payload text under a temporary name, rename it to .zshrc, and move it into the user's home directory, where an interactive shell executes it. The shortcut must be installed and run by a local user; appending to an existing shell profile avoids the added consent prompt and limits execution to that user's privileges.

CVSS severity4.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Authorization bypass in Apple macOS allows local users to execute commands through a crafted, signed shortcut without script permission. The shortcut's file actions save payload text under a temporary name, rename it to .zshrc, and move it into the user's home directory, where an interactive shell executes it. The shortcut must be installed and run by a local user; appending to an existing shell profile avoids the added consent prompt and limits execution to that user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-40834
Published
Jul 29, 2024
Updated
Apr 2, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
CWE-862, T1546.004, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 29, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <12.7.6
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <13.6.8
  3. Affected versionversion=0 <14.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=0 <12.7.6; version=0 <13.6.8; version=0 <14.6

Published CVSS scores

4.4CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
4.4NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-862Missing Authorization
T1546.004Unix Shell Configuration Modification
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo