CVE-2024-44215 is a vulnerability affecting Apple macOS and other Apple operating systems such as iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS. The issue arises from improper handling when processing images, which may lead to unintended disclosure of process memory. This means that when an image is processed, sensitive data residing in memory could be exposed to an attacker. The vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability but compromises confidentiality by leaking potentially sensitive information. The CVSS v3.1 score is 5.5 (medium severity), with an attack vector of local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact is high on confidentiality (C:H), none on integrity (I:N) and availability (A:N). Apple has released patches in multiple OS versions including macOS Ventura 13.7.1 and macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, as well as updates for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS. The vulnerability was reserved in August 2024 and published in late October 2024. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, indicating limited active exploitation at this time. The flaw is mitigated by improved input validation and memory handling checks in the updated OS versions. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, which limits the attack surface primarily to scenarios where an attacker can trick a user into processing a malicious image file or content. This could occur via email, messaging, or other file-sharing mechanisms. The vulnerability is relevant for all Apple device users, especially in environments where sensitive data is processed and confidentiality is critical.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-44215 is the potential leakage of sensitive information from process memory on Apple devices. This could include credentials, cryptographic keys, or other confidential data residing in memory during image processing. Although exploitation requires local access and user interaction, insider threats or targeted phishing attacks could leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive data. Organizations with high reliance on Apple hardware in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure could face confidentiality breaches that undermine data protection compliance (e.g., GDPR). The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so operational disruption is unlikely. However, data leakage could lead to further attacks or regulatory penalties. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits post-disclosure. European organizations should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments and incident response planning, particularly where Apple devices are used for sensitive workloads or by privileged users.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Prioritize deployment of Apple’s security updates that address CVE-2024-44215 across all affected devices including macOS Ventura 13.7.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, iOS/iPadOS 17.7.1 and 18.1, tvOS 18.1, watchOS 11.1, and visionOS 2.1. 2) Enforce strict user awareness training to prevent opening or processing untrusted images, especially from unknown or suspicious sources. 3) Limit local access to Apple devices by enforcing strong physical security controls and restricting user privileges to reduce the risk of local exploitation. 4) Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring anomalous image processing activities or suspicious local file operations. 5) Use application whitelisting and sandboxing to restrict which applications can process images, reducing the attack surface. 6) Regularly audit and monitor logs for unusual user interactions that could indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. 7) For high-security environments, consider isolating Apple devices or restricting their use for sensitive tasks until patches are applied. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access, user behavior, and application-level restrictions tailored to the nature of this vulnerability.