Root-level protected file deletion via privileged PackageKit code
Published Oct 28, 2024 · Updated Apr 2, 2026
Path deletion in Apple macOS allows attackers with root privileges to delete protected system files through PackageKit. PackageKit allowed vulnerable path-deletion code to run with privileges, but Apple has not disclosed the affected function or precise path-handling error. The flaw affects releases before Ventura 13.7.1, Sonoma 14.7.1, and Sequoia 15.1, with no reported code execution or data disclosure.
Summary
What happened
Path deletion in Apple macOS allows attackers with root privileges to delete protected system files through PackageKit. PackageKit allowed vulnerable path-deletion code to run with privileges, but Apple has not disclosed the affected function or precise path-handling error. The flaw affects releases before Ventura 13.7.1, Sonoma 14.7.1, and Sequoia 15.1, with no reported code execution or data disclosure.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-44294
- Published
- Oct 28, 2024
- Updated
- Apr 2, 2026
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- macOS
- Classifications
- T1485
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- admin
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
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
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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