CVE-2024-44176 is an out-of-bounds access vulnerability in Apple’s image processing components across multiple Apple operating systems, 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. The root cause is insufficient bounds checking when processing certain image data, which can lead to a denial-of-service condition by triggering an application or system crash. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-400, indicating a resource exhaustion or DoS issue. Exploitation requires the victim to process a maliciously crafted image, which implies user interaction and local access, limiting remote exploitation potential. The CVSS v3.1 score is 5.5 (medium), with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H, indicating local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction needed, unchanged scope, no confidentiality or integrity impact, but high impact on availability. No known active exploits have been reported in the wild. Apple has released patches in the latest OS versions to address this issue by implementing improved bounds checking to prevent out-of-bounds memory access during image processing. Organizations relying on Apple devices for critical operations should apply these updates promptly to mitigate potential denial-of-service attacks caused by malicious images.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-44176 is denial-of-service, which can disrupt availability of affected Apple devices and applications that process images. For European organizations, this could lead to temporary loss of productivity, especially in sectors where image handling is integral, such as media, design, healthcare, and education. While confidentiality and integrity are not affected, repeated or targeted exploitation could cause operational disruptions or service outages. In environments with shared Apple devices or where users frequently receive image files (e.g., email, messaging platforms), the risk of accidental or deliberate triggering of this vulnerability increases. The requirement for user interaction and local access reduces the risk of widespread remote exploitation but does not eliminate the threat in scenarios involving social engineering or insider threats. Organizations with critical infrastructure or services relying on Apple ecosystems should consider this vulnerability a moderate risk to operational continuity.

1. Apply the latest Apple security updates immediately on all affected devices, 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. 2. Implement strict email and messaging filtering to block or quarantine suspicious image files from untrusted sources. 3. Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected image files, emphasizing caution with attachments and links. 4. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous application crashes or resource exhaustion patterns related to image processing. 5. Where feasible, restrict local user permissions to limit the ability to process potentially malicious files without oversight. 6. Monitor system logs and application crash reports for signs of exploitation attempts or repeated failures related to image handling. 7. For organizations with custom image processing workflows, consider sandboxing or isolating these processes to contain potential DoS impacts. 8. Maintain an incident response plan that includes procedures for handling denial-of-service events caused by malformed media files.