CVE-2024-44177 is a privacy vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows a local application with limited privileges to access sensitive user data without requiring user interaction. The vulnerability was addressed by Apple through the removal of the sensitive data exposure in macOS Ventura 13.7, Sonoma 14.7, and Sequoia 15. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level. The vector indicates that the attack vector is local (AV:L), with low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and unchanged scope (S:U). The impact is high on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). This means an attacker with local access and limited privileges can read sensitive data that should be protected, potentially leading to privacy breaches. The vulnerability does not require user interaction, increasing the risk of silent data exposure. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the presence of sensitive data accessible by low-privilege apps represents a significant privacy concern. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions prior to the patched releases, so organizations running older macOS versions are at risk. The fix involves updating to the specified macOS versions where the sensitive data exposure has been removed. This vulnerability highlights the importance of strict data access controls and minimizing sensitive data exposure within the OS environment.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-44177 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data by local applications running with limited privileges. This can lead to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and reputational damage, especially for sectors handling personal, financial, or health-related data. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, operational disruptions are unlikely; however, the confidentiality breach alone can have serious consequences. Organizations with macOS endpoints, particularly those in industries such as finance, healthcare, legal, and government, face increased risk. The requirement for local access limits remote exploitation but insider threats or malware with local execution capabilities could leverage this vulnerability. The absence of user interaction requirement means exploitation can occur stealthily. European entities must consider this vulnerability in their endpoint security posture and data protection strategies to avoid potential data leaks and compliance issues.

1. Immediately update all macOS systems to versions Ventura 13.7, Sonoma 14.7, or Sequoia 15 where the vulnerability is patched. 2. Implement strict application whitelisting and limit installation of untrusted or unnecessary local applications to reduce the risk of malicious apps exploiting this vulnerability. 3. Enforce least privilege principles for local user accounts and applications to minimize the potential impact of compromised or malicious apps. 4. Conduct regular audits of local app permissions and monitor for unusual access patterns to sensitive data. 5. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting anomalous local data access behaviors. 6. Educate users about the risks of installing unauthorized software and the importance of applying system updates promptly. 7. For high-risk environments, consider additional data encryption at rest and in use to mitigate exposure even if local access is gained. 8. Review and update internal policies to ensure rapid deployment of security patches and vulnerability management for macOS devices.