CVE-2024-44134 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that permits an application to access sensitive location information improperly. The root cause is insufficient redaction of location data, which allows an app with limited privileges (local access and low complexity to exploit) to read sensitive location details without requiring user interaction. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read), indicating that the app may be able to read memory or data it should not have access to, specifically location information. This flaw compromises confidentiality but does not affect data integrity or system availability. The issue was addressed in macOS Sequoia 15 by improving the redaction mechanisms that protect sensitive location data. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level due to the local attack vector, low attack complexity, and requirement for privileges but no user interaction. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported to date. The vulnerability primarily impacts macOS users who run potentially untrusted or malicious applications locally, which could be used to surreptitiously gather location data without consent or awareness.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a privacy risk by potentially exposing sensitive location information of employees or devices running macOS. This could lead to unauthorized tracking or profiling, violating data protection regulations such as GDPR, which mandates strict controls over personal data including location. While the vulnerability does not allow modification or disruption of systems, the confidentiality breach could undermine trust and lead to regulatory penalties if exploited. Organizations with macOS endpoints, especially those handling sensitive or regulated data, could face increased risk of targeted espionage or insider threats leveraging this flaw. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the presence of the vulnerability in widely used Apple devices means that attackers could develop exploits in the future. The impact is more pronounced for sectors with high privacy requirements such as government, finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure within Europe.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading all macOS devices to macOS Sequoia 15 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. Until upgrades are complete, restrict app installation to trusted sources and enforce strict application whitelisting to prevent untrusted apps from running locally. Implement endpoint protection solutions capable of monitoring and blocking suspicious local app behaviors, especially those attempting to access location services or sensitive APIs. Review and tighten macOS privacy settings to limit location data access only to necessary applications. Conduct user awareness training to reduce the risk of privilege escalation or local compromise that could enable exploitation. Regularly audit devices for compliance with patch levels and app permissions. For highly sensitive environments, consider additional network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous data exfiltration related to location information.