VulnerabilityPublished 20 Dec 2024Updated 2 Apr 2026

CVE-2024-44231: Apple macOS · A person with physical access to a Mac may be able to bypass Login Window during a software update in

Affects Apple macOSSource CVE Database V5

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.5 High · fixed in 15.1 : patch Apple macOS soon.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score

7.5High

How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

EPSS: 0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 38% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch: Available – fixed in 15.1

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: High
Integrity: None
Availability: None

Bold values are the worst case: easiest to exploit or largest impact.

Attack Vector: Network: The vulnerable component is bound to the network stack and the set of possible attackers extends beyond the other options listed, up to and including the entire Internet. Such a vulnerability is often termed 'remotely exploitable' and can be thought of as an attack being exploitable at the protocol level one or more network hops away (e.g., across one or more routers).
Attack Complexity: Low: Specialized access conditions or extenuating circumstances do not exist. An attacker can expect repeatable success against the vulnerable component.
Privileges Required: None: The attacker is unauthorized prior to attack, and therefore does not require any access to settings or files to carry out an attack.
User Interaction: None: The vulnerable system can be exploited without any interaction from any user.
Scope: Unchanged: An exploited vulnerability can only affect resources managed by the same security authority. In this case, the vulnerable component and the impacted component are either the same, or both are managed by the same security authority.
Confidentiality: High: There is total loss of confidentiality, resulting in all resources within the impacted component being divulged to the attacker. Alternatively, access to only some restricted information is obtained, but the disclosed information presents a direct, serious impact.
Integrity: None: There is no loss of integrity within the impacted component.
Availability: None: There is no impact to availability within the impacted component.

Definitions: FIRST CVSS v3.1 specification.

Exploitation evidence

Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 20 Dec 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.

Disclosed: The CVE record is public on cve.org. Its publication is t = 0.
Detectable: A public nuclei template can find exposed instances, for defenders and attackers alike.
Weaponised: Public exploit code exists in Metasploit or Exploit-DB, or CISA SSVC or the CVSS exploit maturity reports a public proof of concept.
Exploited in the wild: CISA KEV lists it, CISA SSVC rates exploitation active, or a source reports attacks.
Observed by OffSeq Mirage: OffSeq Mirage honeypot sensors recorded attack traffic for this CVE, or found exposed hosts without attack traffic.

Moments are spaced evenly, not to scale; a dashed line marks a gap of six months or more. Deltas count from t = 0. Sources that give only a date (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, or a time of exactly 00:00Z) read “same day” rather than hours. Metasploit modules carry the flaw’s disclosure date, not their release date, and nuclei templates carry no date, so both appear above but not on the timeline.

What to do

Affected software

Product	Affected	Fixed in
Apple macOS	Affected =0	Fixed in–

AI-suggested

To mitigate CVE-2024-44231, organizations and users should immediately update all affected macOS devices to macOS Sequoia 15.1 or later, where the vulnerability has been fixed. Beyond patching, physical security controls must be strengthened to prevent unauthorized physical access to devices, including the use of locked rooms, secure storage, and surveillance. Implementing full disk encryption with strong passwords and enabling firmware passwords can add layers of defense, although this vulnerability specifically bypasses the login window during updates, so patching is critical. Organizations should also enforce policies that restrict unattended devices and educate users about the risks of leaving devices physically accessible. For high-security environments, consider additional endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions that can monitor for suspicious activity post-login bypass. Regular audits of physical security and device inventory can help identify and mitigate risks associated with physical access attacks. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential compromises stemming from this vulnerability.

Description

This issue was addressed through improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.1. A person with physical access to a Mac may be able to bypass Login Window during a software update.

Impact

The primary impact of CVE-2024-44231 is the unauthorized bypass of the macOS Login Window, allowing an attacker with physical access to gain access to the system without authentication. This compromises the confidentiality of the system by exposing user data and potentially sensitive information stored on the device. Although the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the ability to bypass login controls can lead to further attacks, such as data exfiltration, installation of persistent malware, or lateral movement within a network if the device is connected to corporate resources. Organizations worldwide that deploy macOS devices in environments where physical access is not tightly controlled—such as offices, public spaces, or shared workstations—are at risk. The vulnerability is particularly critical for high-security environments like government agencies, financial institutions, and enterprises handling sensitive data. The ease of exploitation (no privileges or user interaction needed) combined with the high confidentiality impact elevates the threat level. However, the requirement for physical access limits remote exploitation, making it a significant concern primarily for on-premises security.

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Exploitation evidence

What to do

Affected software

Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 2 Apr 2026, 23:59 UTC

Technical details

References

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