CVE-2024-44184 is a permissions-related vulnerability identified in Apple macOS and iOS/iPadOS platforms that could allow an application with limited privileges to access sensitive user data improperly. The root cause is an access control weakness (CWE-200) where the operating system failed to enforce adequate restrictions on app access to certain user data. This vulnerability affects multiple Apple OS versions, including macOS Ventura 13.7, Sonoma 14.7, Sequoia 15, and iOS/iPadOS 17.7 and 18. The flaw does not require user interaction to exploit, but the attacker must have local privileges on the device, which limits the attack vector primarily to local or insider threats or malware already running with limited permissions. The CVSS v3.1 score of 5.5 reflects a medium severity, driven by high confidentiality impact but no impact on integrity or availability. Apple has addressed this issue by introducing additional restrictions in the affected OS versions, closing the permissions gap. No public exploits or active exploitation campaigns have been reported to date. The vulnerability highlights the importance of strict permission enforcement in modern OS environments to protect sensitive user data from unauthorized access by apps.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on Apple devices, which could include personal, corporate, or regulatory-protected information. Organizations relying on macOS or iOS devices for critical operations or handling sensitive data could face confidentiality breaches if exploited. Although exploitation requires local access with low privileges, insider threats or malware infections could leverage this flaw to escalate data access without detection. This could lead to data leakage, privacy violations, and potential non-compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations. The impact is particularly significant for sectors with high Apple device usage such as finance, technology, and government agencies. However, the lack of integrity or availability impact and no requirement for user interaction reduce the likelihood of widespread disruption or remote exploitation. Timely patching is essential to mitigate these risks and maintain compliance with European data protection standards.

1. Immediately deploy the latest Apple OS updates that address CVE-2024-44184, including macOS Ventura 13.7, Sonoma 14.7, Sequoia 15, and iOS/iPadOS 17.7 and 18. 2. Enforce strict application permission policies using Apple’s MDM (Mobile Device Management) solutions to limit app access to sensitive data. 3. Conduct regular audits of installed applications and their permissions on organizational Apple devices to detect unauthorized or suspicious apps. 4. Implement endpoint security solutions capable of monitoring and alerting on anomalous local app behaviors indicative of privilege misuse. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of installing untrusted applications and the importance of applying OS updates promptly. 6. For highly sensitive environments, consider restricting local user privileges further and employing device encryption and data loss prevention (DLP) tools. 7. Monitor security advisories from Apple and threat intelligence sources for any emerging exploit activity related to this vulnerability.