CVE-2024-44291

Local root escalation via undisclosed file handling

Published Dec 11, 2024 · Updated Apr 2, 2026

Privilege escalation in Apple macOS Ventura before 13.7.2, Sonoma before 14.7.2, and Sequoia before 15.2 allows local users to gain root. Apple identifies Foundation on Sequoia and Software Update on Sonoma and Ventura, but has not published the flawed file operation. A local user must run a malicious app; successful exploitation grants root-level control.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in Apple macOS Ventura before 13.7.2, Sonoma before 14.7.2, and Sequoia before 15.2 allows local users to gain root. Apple identifies Foundation on Sequoia and Software Update on Sonoma and Ventura, but has not published the flawed file operation. A local user must run a malicious app; successful exploitation grants root-level control.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-44291
Published
Dec 11, 2024
Updated
Apr 2, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
macOS
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 11, 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 <13.7.2
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <14.7.2
  3. Affected versionversion=0 <15.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · macOSversion=0 <13.7.2; version=0 <14.7.2; version=0 <15.2

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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