CVE-2024-44170 is a privacy vulnerability identified in Apple macOS, specifically addressed in the latest macOS Sequoia 15 release, as well as iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and watchOS 11. The vulnerability stems from sensitive user data being stored in a location that is insufficiently protected, allowing an application with limited privileges (local access and low complexity) to access this data without requiring user interaction. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N) indicates that an attacker needs local access with low privileges and no user interaction, and the impact is high on confidentiality but none on integrity or availability. This suggests that while the attacker cannot modify or disrupt the system, they can read sensitive information that should otherwise be protected. Apple mitigated this by moving the sensitive data to a more secure location within the OS filesystem or sandbox environment, thereby restricting unauthorized access. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the vulnerability poses a risk especially in environments where multiple users or applications share the same device or where malicious local apps could be installed. The affected versions are unspecified, but the fix is included in the latest OS releases, implying that older versions remain vulnerable until updated. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure data storage and access control within operating systems, particularly for privacy-sensitive data on widely used platforms like macOS.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-44170 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on macOS devices. This could include personal information, corporate credentials, or other confidential data stored locally. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, legal, and technology, which often rely on macOS for their operations, may face increased risks of data breaches or insider threats if malicious or compromised applications exploit this vulnerability. The confidentiality breach could lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR, reputational damage, and financial losses. Since exploitation requires local access with limited privileges, the threat is more significant in environments where endpoint security is weak, or where users install untrusted applications. The lack of required user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation once local access is obtained. However, the absence of known exploits in the wild and the medium CVSS score suggest the threat is moderate but should not be underestimated, especially in high-value target environments.

European organizations should prioritize updating all Apple devices to macOS Sequoia 15 or later, as well as iOS 18 and related OS versions, to ensure the vulnerability is patched. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application control policies to prevent installation of unauthorized or untrusted apps that could exploit local access vulnerabilities. Implementing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions can help monitor for suspicious local access or data access patterns. Regular audits of user permissions and local access rights can reduce the risk of privilege escalation or unauthorized data access. Organizations should also educate users about the risks of installing unverified software and maintain strong physical security controls to prevent unauthorized local access to devices. For environments with shared devices, consider additional sandboxing or containerization to isolate sensitive data. Finally, monitoring for unusual file access or data exfiltration attempts on macOS endpoints can provide early warning of exploitation attempts.