CVE-2024-44185 is a vulnerability in Apple Safari identified as causing an unexpected process crash when the browser processes specially crafted malicious web content. The root cause lies in insufficient validation or handling of certain web content inputs, which leads to a denial-of-service condition by crashing the Safari process. This affects Safari across multiple Apple operating systems including macOS Sonoma, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. The vulnerability requires user interaction, specifically the user must visit or interact with a maliciously crafted web page. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is local (via user interaction), with low attack complexity and no privileges required. The impact is limited to availability, as confidentiality and integrity are not affected. Apple fixed the issue by implementing improved checks and input validation in Safari 17.6 and corresponding OS updates. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported. This vulnerability primarily represents a denial-of-service risk, potentially disrupting user productivity or automated processes relying on Safari.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-44185 is denial of service through unexpected browser crashes, which can disrupt user activities and automated workflows relying on Safari. While it does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, repeated crashes can degrade user experience, cause loss of unsaved work, and potentially interrupt critical business operations that depend on web access via Safari. Organizations with large deployments of Apple devices, especially those in sectors requiring high availability such as healthcare, finance, and government, may experience operational disruptions if users encounter malicious web content exploiting this vulnerability. Additionally, targeted attacks could use this flaw to cause nuisance or distraction, potentially as part of multi-stage campaigns. However, the lack of known exploits and the requirement for user interaction limit the immediacy and scale of impact.

To mitigate CVE-2024-44185, organizations and users should promptly update all affected Apple devices to the latest versions of Safari and operating systems: Safari 17.6, iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, macOS Sonoma 14.6, tvOS 17.6, visionOS 1.3, and watchOS 10.6. Beyond patching, organizations can implement network-level protections such as web filtering to block access to known malicious sites and employ endpoint security solutions capable of detecting anomalous browser crashes. User education is important to reduce the risk of visiting suspicious or untrusted websites. For managed environments, monitoring Safari crash logs can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, limiting the use of Safari for critical automated processes or employing alternative browsers with different rendering engines may reduce exposure. Regular vulnerability scanning and asset inventory to ensure all Apple devices are updated is recommended.