CVE-2024-44162 is a vulnerability identified in Apple Xcode, the integrated development environment (IDE) widely used for macOS and iOS application development. The core issue stems from the absence of hardened runtime enforcement in affected versions of Xcode, which allows a malicious application running with limited privileges (low privilege local access) to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to the user's Keychain items. The Keychain is a secure storage system on Apple devices that holds sensitive information such as passwords, cryptographic keys, certificates, and other credentials. By exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of these sensitive credentials, potentially leading to further system compromise or data theft. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization), indicating that the application fails to properly enforce authorization checks. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8 (high), reflecting the significant impact and relatively low attack complexity. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring the attacker to have local access with low privileges (PR:L), and no user interaction is needed (UI:N). The vulnerability affects unspecified versions prior to Xcode 16, where Apple has fixed the issue by enabling hardened runtime protections, which restrict the ability of applications to perform unauthorized operations. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date, but the potential risk remains high due to the sensitive nature of the Keychain data and the widespread use of Xcode among developers.

For European organizations, especially those involved in software development, cybersecurity, and sectors handling sensitive data (e.g., finance, healthcare, government), this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Compromise of Keychain items can lead to leakage of credentials, cryptographic keys, and certificates, which may facilitate lateral movement, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration within corporate networks. Organizations relying on Xcode for application development or security testing may inadvertently expose sensitive credentials if vulnerable versions are used on developer workstations or build servers. The impact extends beyond individual developers to the integrity of software supply chains, as compromised credentials could be used to sign malicious code or access internal resources. Given the high CVSS score and the potential for full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, the threat could disrupt development operations and undermine trust in software products. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the vulnerability's presence in a widely used development tool increases the likelihood of targeted attacks or exploitation by advanced threat actors in the near future.

1. Immediate upgrade to Apple Xcode version 16 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed by enabling hardened runtime protections. 2. Enforce strict runtime security policies on developer machines, including application whitelisting and sandboxing to limit the execution of unauthorized or untrusted applications. 3. Conduct audits of developer workstations and build environments to identify and remediate the use of vulnerable Xcode versions. 4. Implement multi-factor authentication and strong access controls for Keychain access to reduce the risk of unauthorized retrieval of credentials. 5. Monitor for unusual local activity on developer machines that could indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability, such as unauthorized access to Keychain items. 6. Educate developers and IT staff about the risks associated with this vulnerability and the importance of timely patching. 7. Consider isolating build environments and sensitive credential stores from general user environments to minimize exposure. 8. Review and rotate sensitive credentials stored in Keychain after patching to mitigate any potential prior compromise.