Hackers Exploit Old macOS Screen Sharing Flaw to Secretly Mine Cryptocurrency

Security researchers have identified an active campaign in which cybercriminals exploit a known macOS Screen Sharing vulnerability to secretly install Monero cryptomining software on victims' computers. The flaw has already been patched by Apple, meaning the attack only succeeds against Macs that have not installed the latest security updates.

Once a vulnerable Mac is compromised, attackers use it to mine Monero, a cryptocurrency favoured by criminals for its privacy features. This type of attack, often called cryptojacking, can slow down affected devices, increase power consumption, and in some cases open the door to further compromise since the attacker has already gained a foothold on the system.

Because the vulnerability has a fix available, this incident is a reminder that outdated software remains one of the easiest ways for attackers to gain access to business systems, even on platforms like macOS that are often perceived as less targeted than Windows.