CVE-2024-44198 is an integer overflow vulnerability identified in Apple’s macOS and other Apple operating systems, including visionOS, watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS. The root cause is insufficient input validation when processing certain web content, which can lead to an integer overflow (CWE-190). This overflow can cause an unexpected process crash, resulting in denial of service (DoS) conditions. The vulnerability is triggered by maliciously crafted web content, implying that exploitation requires user interaction, such as visiting a malicious website or opening malicious content within a browser or web-enabled application. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is local (AV:L), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R). The impact is limited to availability (A:H), with no confidentiality or integrity impact. Apple has addressed this vulnerability in the latest versions of their operating systems (visionOS 2, watchOS 11, macOS Sequoia 15, iOS 18, iPadOS 18, tvOS 18) by improving input validation to prevent the integer overflow. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, but the vulnerability could be leveraged to disrupt services or user experience by causing application or system crashes. This vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in web content processing components within Apple’s OS ecosystem.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-44198 is the potential for denial-of-service conditions on Apple devices when processing malicious web content. This could disrupt business operations, particularly in environments where Apple devices are integral to workflows, such as creative industries, education, and mobile workforce scenarios. While the vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, repeated crashes could degrade user productivity and cause operational interruptions. In sectors relying on Apple hardware for critical communications or control systems, such as healthcare or finance, unexpected process crashes could have more serious consequences. The requirement for user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially if attackers use phishing or malicious websites to trigger the vulnerability. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not preclude future exploitation attempts. Organizations with large Apple device deployments should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments and patch management strategies.

1. Apply the latest Apple OS updates immediately across all affected devices, including macOS Sequoia 15, visionOS 2, watchOS 11, iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and tvOS 18, to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Implement strict web content filtering and URL reputation services to reduce exposure to malicious web content that could trigger the vulnerability. 3. Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted web content and phishing attempts that may exploit this vulnerability. 4. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting abnormal process crashes or behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Monitor system logs and crash reports for unusual patterns that may suggest exploitation attempts. 6. Limit the use of Apple devices for critical infrastructure functions where possible or implement compensating controls to mitigate availability risks. 7. For organizations with mobile device management (MDM), enforce policies that ensure devices are updated promptly and restrict installation of untrusted applications or content.