CVE-2024-44188 is a permissions-related vulnerability in Apple macOS identified as CWE-281 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer or similar access control issues). This flaw allows an application running with limited privileges (local access with low privileges) to bypass certain access restrictions and gain unauthorized access to protected user data. The vulnerability does not require user interaction, which increases the risk of silent data exposure. However, exploitation requires local access, limiting remote attack vectors. The issue was addressed by Apple in macOS Sequoia 15 through additional restrictions on permissions to prevent unauthorized data access. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium), with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, indicating local attack vector, low attack complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, high confidentiality impact, and no integrity or availability impact. There are no known exploits in the wild, and the affected versions are unspecified but presumably all versions prior to Sequoia 15. This vulnerability primarily threatens the confidentiality of user data on macOS devices, potentially exposing sensitive information to malicious or compromised applications running locally.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-44188 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of protected user data on macOS devices. This could include sensitive corporate or personal information, intellectual property, or credentials stored or accessible on the device. Since exploitation requires local access with low privileges, the threat is more relevant in environments where endpoint security is weak or where attackers can gain foothold through social engineering, insider threats, or lateral movement after initial compromise. The lack of required user interaction means that once local access is achieved, data exposure can occur silently. This vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so it is less likely to cause service disruptions but can lead to data breaches and compliance issues under GDPR and other privacy regulations. Organizations with significant macOS usage in sectors like finance, technology, and government are at higher risk. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for timely patching and mitigation.

1. Immediately upgrade all macOS systems to macOS Sequoia 15 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. 2. Implement strict endpoint security controls to limit local user privileges and prevent unauthorized app installations. 3. Use application whitelisting and monitoring to detect and block suspicious local applications attempting to access protected data. 4. Regularly audit and review user permissions and local access policies to ensure minimal privilege principles are enforced. 5. Employ disk encryption and secure user data storage to reduce the impact of unauthorized access. 6. Educate users and administrators about the risks of local privilege escalation and the importance of applying security updates promptly. 7. Monitor for unusual local activity that could indicate exploitation attempts, such as unexpected access to sensitive files or processes. 8. Consider network segmentation and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect lateral movement and local attacks within corporate environments.