CVE-2024-44171 is a vulnerability identified in Apple iOS and iPadOS that allows an attacker with physical access to a locked device to leverage accessibility features to control nearby devices. The root cause is improper state management within these accessibility functionalities, which fails to adequately restrict control capabilities when the device is locked. This flaw enables an attacker to bypass authentication and user interaction requirements, potentially manipulating connected or nearby devices without the device owner's consent. The vulnerability affects all unspecified versions prior to the patched releases iOS 17.7, iPadOS 17.7, iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and watchOS 11. The CVSS v3.1 score is 4.6 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector requires physical access (AV:P), has low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is primarily on integrity, as attackers can control nearby devices, but confidentiality and availability are not directly compromised. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the vulnerability poses a risk in scenarios where devices are physically accessible to malicious actors, such as in public or shared spaces. The issue was resolved by Apple through improved state management in the accessibility feature code paths, ensuring that control capabilities are properly restricted when the device is locked.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a risk primarily in environments where devices may be physically accessible to unauthorized individuals, such as offices, public areas, or during transport. The ability to control nearby devices via accessibility features could lead to unauthorized manipulation of connected systems, potentially compromising operational integrity. While the vulnerability does not directly expose sensitive data (no confidentiality impact) or cause denial of service (no availability impact), the integrity breach could facilitate further attacks or unauthorized actions on connected devices. Sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure that rely heavily on Apple mobile devices and have stringent security requirements could face increased risk. Additionally, organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies may be more vulnerable if employees' devices are not updated. The medium severity rating suggests that while the threat is not critical, it should not be ignored, especially in high-security contexts.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigation measures: 1) Ensure all Apple iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS devices are updated to versions 17.7 or later to apply the official patch. 2) Enforce strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized physical access to devices, including secure storage and access policies. 3) Review and restrict accessibility feature usage through Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions, disabling unnecessary accessibility services that could be exploited. 4) Educate users about the risks of leaving devices unattended or unlocked in public or shared spaces. 5) Monitor device logs and behavior for unusual activity related to accessibility features or nearby device control attempts. 6) For high-risk environments, consider additional endpoint protection solutions that can detect or block anomalous device control commands. 7) Implement policies requiring immediate reporting and investigation of lost or stolen devices to mitigate exploitation opportunities.