CVE-2024-44163 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows a malicious application to access private information due to insufficient access control checks. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, indicating an information exposure issue. It affects macOS versions prior to Ventura 13.7, Sonoma 14.7, and Sequoia 15, where Apple has implemented improved checks to mitigate the flaw. The CVSS v3.1 score is 5.5 (medium), with the vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), and no impact on integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). This means an attacker must have local access and trick a user into interacting with the malicious application to gain unauthorized access to private data. The vulnerability does not allow modification or disruption of system functions but compromises confidentiality by exposing sensitive information. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the risk remains for targeted attacks or malware leveraging this flaw. The issue was addressed by Apple through enhanced access checks in the specified macOS versions, emphasizing the importance of timely patching.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or private information on macOS devices. Organizations with employees using macOS systems, especially in sectors handling confidential data such as finance, healthcare, and government, could face data leakage that may lead to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and reputational damage. Although exploitation requires local access and user interaction, insider threats or social engineering attacks could leverage this vulnerability. The impact is primarily on confidentiality, with no direct effect on system integrity or availability. Given the widespread use of macOS in certain European countries and industries, unpatched systems could be targeted for espionage or data theft. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future attacks.

European organizations should prioritize updating all macOS devices to versions Ventura 13.7, Sonoma 14.7, or Sequoia 15 where the vulnerability is fixed. Implement strict application control policies to limit installation of untrusted or unsigned applications, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting this flaw. Educate users about the risks of interacting with unknown or suspicious applications to mitigate the user interaction requirement for exploitation. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring unusual application behaviors on macOS. Regularly audit and inventory macOS devices to ensure compliance with patch management policies. Additionally, consider restricting local access to macOS systems in sensitive environments and enforce strong authentication mechanisms to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized local access.