CVE-2024-44183 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS and its related operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, watchOS, and tvOS. The root cause is a logic error related to insufficient error handling, which can be triggered by a local application with low privileges to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. This DoS does not affect confidentiality or integrity but impacts availability by potentially exhausting system resources or causing system instability. The vulnerability requires local access with limited privileges (AV:L, PR:L) and does not require user interaction (UI:N), making it exploitable by any app running on the device without additional user consent. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level, with the attack vector being local and low complexity. Apple has released patches in macOS Ventura 13.7 and subsequent versions, as well as updates for other Apple OS platforms, to address this issue by improving error handling mechanisms. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, but the vulnerability could be leveraged by malicious or poorly designed apps to disrupt system availability. The underlying CWE is 400, indicating uncontrolled resource consumption leading to DoS. This vulnerability highlights the importance of robust error handling in OS components to prevent resource exhaustion attacks.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-44183 is the potential for denial-of-service conditions on Apple devices, which could disrupt business operations relying on macOS or other Apple OS platforms. This may affect availability of critical systems, especially in environments where Apple hardware is prevalent, such as creative industries, software development, and mobile device management. Although the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, service interruptions could lead to productivity losses, operational delays, and increased support costs. Organizations with strict uptime requirements or those using Apple devices in critical infrastructure roles may face heightened risks. The local attack vector limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or malicious apps could still trigger the DoS. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the medium severity score and broad device coverage necessitate proactive patching and monitoring to maintain system stability and availability.

1. Apply the latest Apple OS updates immediately, specifically macOS Ventura 13.7 or later and corresponding updates for iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, watchOS, and tvOS to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Restrict installation of apps to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store and enforce strict app vetting policies to minimize the risk of malicious local apps exploiting this flaw. 3. Implement endpoint protection solutions that monitor for abnormal resource consumption or application behavior indicative of a denial-of-service attempt. 4. Use Mobile Device Management (MDM) tools to enforce security policies and ensure devices remain up to date with patches. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of installing untrusted software and the importance of timely updates. 6. Monitor system logs and performance metrics for signs of resource exhaustion or instability that could indicate exploitation attempts. 7. In high-security environments, consider restricting local app execution privileges further or using sandboxing techniques to limit potential damage from compromised apps.