Protected filesystem modification via code-signing downgrade
Published Oct 28, 2024 · Updated Apr 2, 2026
A downgrade in Apple macOS Ventura before 13.7.1, Sonoma before 14.7.1, and Sequoia before 15.1 lets local users modify protected files. AppleMobileFileIntegrity applies insufficient code-signing restrictions to downgraded code, allowing an app to write where file-system protection should block it. Exploitation requires an app to run on an Intel-based Mac; Apple has not disclosed the exact downgrade path or required user action.
Summary
What happened
A downgrade in Apple macOS Ventura before 13.7.1, Sonoma before 14.7.1, and Sequoia before 15.1 lets local users modify protected files. AppleMobileFileIntegrity applies insufficient code-signing restrictions to downgraded code, allowing an app to write where file-system protection should block it. Exploitation requires an app to run on an Intel-based Mac; Apple has not disclosed the exact downgrade path or required user action.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-44280
- Published
- Oct 28, 2024
- Updated
- Apr 2, 2026
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- macOS
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
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
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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
- Affected versionversion=14.0 <14.7.1
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
No sourced classifications are available.
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
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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