CVE-2019-8533
Description
A lock handling issue was addressed with improved lock handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Mojave 10.14.4. A Mac may not lock when disconnecting from an external monitor.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
A lock handling issue in macOS Mojave caused the Mac to not lock when disconnecting from an external monitor, potentially allowing unauthorized physical access.
Vulnerability
In macOS Mojave 10.14.3 and earlier, a lock handling issue exists where the system may not properly lock when an external monitor is disconnected. This occurs due to improper handling of the lock state during display changes. Affected versions: macOS Mojave before 10.14.4. [1]
Exploitation
An attacker with physical access to a Mac that is connected to an external monitor can exploit this by waiting for the user to disconnect the monitor, after which the system may not lock, leaving the session accessible. No authentication or user interaction beyond the monitor disconnect is required.
Impact
Successful exploitation allows an attacker to gain unauthorized physical access to the unlocked Mac, potentially leading to disclosure of sensitive information or further compromise.
Mitigation
This issue is fixed in macOS Mojave 10.14.4, released on March 25, 2019. Users should update to this version or later. No workarounds are documented. [1]
AI Insight generated on May 26, 2026. Synthesized from this CVE's description and the cited reference URLs; citations are validated against the source bundle.
Affected products
2- Range: <10.14.4
- Range: unspecified
Patches
0No patches discovered yet.
Vulnerability mechanics
AI mechanics synthesis has not run for this CVE yet.
References
1- support.apple.com/HT209600mitrex_refsource_MISC
News mentions
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