CVE-2024-44185 is a vulnerability identified in Apple watchOS and related Apple operating systems, including tvOS, visionOS, Safari, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. The issue arises from insufficient validation when processing web content, allowing specially crafted malicious web data to trigger an unexpected process crash. This vulnerability affects the availability of the affected systems by causing denial-of-service conditions through process termination. The attack vector is local, meaning the attacker must have local access to the device, and user interaction is required to trigger the vulnerability, such as visiting a malicious web page or opening crafted content. No privileges or authentication are necessary, which lowers the barrier to exploitation once local access is obtained. The vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, focusing solely on availability impacts. Apple addressed the issue by implementing improved input validation and checks in watchOS 10.6 and corresponding updates for other Apple platforms. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, reducing immediate risk but warranting timely patching to prevent future exploitation. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level primarily due to the availability impact and ease of triggering the crash with user interaction but limited attack vector scope.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-44185 is the potential disruption of services relying on Apple watchOS devices. This could affect workforce productivity, especially in sectors where wearable devices are integrated into operational workflows, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics. The denial-of-service effect could interrupt critical notifications, health monitoring, or time-sensitive alerts. While the vulnerability does not expose sensitive data or allow unauthorized control, the loss of device availability can degrade operational efficiency and user trust. Enterprises with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies that include Apple watches may face increased risk if users access malicious web content on their devices. Additionally, organizations using Apple’s ecosystem for unified device management and communication could experience cascading effects if multiple devices are impacted simultaneously. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the risk of targeted attacks exploiting this flaw in the future.

European organizations should prioritize deploying the official Apple patches for watchOS 10.6 and other affected platforms (tvOS 17.6, visionOS 1.3, Safari 17.6, iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, macOS Sonoma 14.6) as soon as possible. Network administrators should enforce policies that limit access to untrusted or suspicious web content on Apple devices, including restricting or monitoring web browsing activities on watchOS where feasible. User education is critical to reduce the risk of interaction with malicious content; training should emphasize cautious behavior when opening unknown links or web pages on wearable devices. Organizations should also review and tighten local device access controls to prevent unauthorized physical or remote access to Apple watches. Monitoring device logs for unusual process crashes or instability may help detect attempted exploitation. For environments with high security requirements, consider temporarily disabling web content rendering features on watchOS devices until patches are applied. Integrating these devices into endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions that support Apple platforms can enhance visibility and incident response capabilities.