CVE-2024-44169 is a vulnerability identified in Apple’s macOS and other Apple operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, watchOS, and tvOS. The root cause is improper memory handling within the system that allows a maliciously crafted application to trigger unexpected system termination, effectively causing a denial of service (DoS). The vulnerability is classified under CWE-400, which relates to uncontrolled resource consumption or memory management issues. The flaw can be exploited remotely (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), requires no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R) to activate. The scope is unchanged (S:U), but the impact on confidentiality and integrity is high (C:H/I:H), while availability impact is not directly indicated (A:N). This means an attacker could potentially cause system crashes or termination of critical processes, disrupting normal operations and possibly leading to data corruption or loss of system integrity. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple OS versions, including macOS Ventura 13.7, macOS Sequoia 15, macOS Sonoma 14.7, iOS 17.7 and later, iPadOS 17.7 and later, visionOS 2, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18. Apple has addressed the issue by improving memory handling in these versions. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the high CVSS score of 8.1 reflects the seriousness of the issue. Given the widespread use of Apple devices in both consumer and enterprise environments, this vulnerability poses a notable risk if left unpatched.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-44169 can be significant, especially for those relying on Apple hardware and software in their IT infrastructure. The vulnerability can cause unexpected system terminations, leading to denial of service conditions that disrupt business operations, potentially affecting productivity and service availability. High-impact sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure that use Apple devices for sensitive tasks could face operational interruptions and data integrity issues. Since the vulnerability affects confidentiality and integrity, there is a risk that system crashes could be leveraged to bypass security controls or corrupt data. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be used to trigger the exploit, increasing the risk in environments with less stringent user awareness. Additionally, the lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits rapidly once the vulnerability details are public. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces using Apple devices are particularly vulnerable if devices are not updated promptly.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Immediately deploy the latest Apple OS updates that fix this vulnerability, including macOS Ventura 13.7, macOS Sequoia 15, macOS Sonoma 14.7, iOS 17.7 and later, and other relevant OS versions. 2) Enforce strict application control policies to prevent installation of untrusted or unsigned apps that could exploit this vulnerability. 3) Enhance user awareness training focused on recognizing phishing and social engineering attempts that might trigger the exploit. 4) Utilize endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for abnormal app behavior or system crashes indicative of exploitation attempts. 5) Restrict user permissions to limit the ability to install or run potentially malicious applications. 6) For critical systems, consider network segmentation to isolate Apple devices and reduce exposure. 7) Monitor security advisories and threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploit activity related to this CVE. 8) Conduct regular backups and ensure recovery procedures are tested to mitigate potential data loss from unexpected system terminations.