Protected-file modification via temporary mount-point race
Published Oct 28, 2024 · Updated Apr 2, 2026
Authorization bypass in macOS Ventura before 13.7.1, Sonoma before 14.7.1, and Sequoia before 15.1 allows local users to modify protected files. The RecoveryHDUpdate.pkg replaceRecovery script extracts and mounts attacker-replaceable disk images beneath /tmp, then trusts the user-controlled mount point while running with installer privileges. A local app can race the installer, replace the mount point with a symlink, and overwrite the SIP-protected TCC compatibility allowlist to obtain protected-data access.
Summary
What happened
Authorization bypass in macOS Ventura before 13.7.1, Sonoma before 14.7.1, and Sequoia before 15.1 allows local users to modify protected files. The RecoveryHDUpdate.pkg replaceRecovery script extracts and mounts attacker-replaceable disk images beneath /tmp, then trusts the user-controlled mount point while running with installer privileges. A local app can race the installer, replace the mount point with a symlink, and overwrite the SIP-protected TCC compatibility allowlist to obtain protected-data access.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-44253
- Published
- Oct 28, 2024
- Updated
- Apr 2, 2026
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- macOS
- Classifications
- CWE-863, T1548.006
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 28, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <13.7.1
- Affected versionversion=0 <14.7.1
- Affected versionversion=0 <15.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Public exploit references
- RecoveryHDUpdate.pkg mount-point race procedurefunctional · demonstrated
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
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