# CVE-2024-23238: Missing authorization in macOS

> An app can edit NVRAM variables due to insufficient access restrictions, allowing unauthorized modification of system settings.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 8 Mar 2024
- **Updated:** 2 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g3gw-gcgh-qmpp

## What is CVE-2024-23238?

CVE-2024-23238 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Apple Macos, published on 8 Mar 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

An access issue was addressed with improved access restrictions. This issue is fixed in macOS Sonoma 14.4. An app may be able to edit NVRAM variables.

Weakness: CWE-284 (Improper Access Control)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-23238?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Apple Macos.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-23238?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-23238 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-23238 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-23238 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Macos

- [CVE-2026-65400](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-65400/): Apple macOS Improper Authentication (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-44146](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-44146/): Security feature bypass in macOS (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-44148](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-44148/): Security feature bypass in macOS (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2023-38586](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38586/): Security feature bypass in macOS (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2023-40455](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40455/): Security feature bypass in macOS (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-23238 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-23238 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Apple Macos, published on 8 Mar 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-23238 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apple Macos. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-23238/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-23238/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-23238
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-23238
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-23238

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-23238/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.