CVE-2024-44278 is an information disclosure vulnerability identified in Apple’s macOS and other Apple operating systems such as iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and visionOS. The root cause is inadequate redaction of sensitive user data within system log entries, which allows sandboxed applications—normally restricted in their access—to read sensitive information from these logs. Sandboxed apps operate with limited privileges to protect user data and system integrity, but this vulnerability bypasses those restrictions by exploiting the logging mechanism. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple OS versions prior to the patched releases: iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, iOS 17.7.1, iPadOS 17.7.1, macOS Ventura 13.7.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, watchOS 11.1, and visionOS 2.1. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5, indicating medium severity, with the vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. This means the attack requires local access with low complexity and low privileges, no user interaction, and results in a high impact on confidentiality without affecting integrity or availability. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require the attacker to have some level of local access or privilege on the device. Apple has mitigated this issue by enhancing the redaction of private data in log entries to prevent unauthorized access. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported to date. This vulnerability primarily threatens user privacy by potentially exposing sensitive data such as credentials, personal information, or other confidential details logged by the system.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-44278 is the potential leakage of sensitive user data through system logs accessible by sandboxed applications. This could lead to privacy violations, unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, and potential compliance issues under regulations such as GDPR. Organizations relying heavily on Apple devices for business operations, especially those handling sensitive or regulated data, face increased risk of data exposure if devices remain unpatched. Although the vulnerability requires local access with some privileges, insider threats or malware that gains foothold on devices could exploit this to escalate data access. The lack of impact on system integrity or availability limits the threat to confidentiality, but the exposure of sensitive data could facilitate further attacks such as credential theft or social engineering. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the medium severity and ease of exploitation by local attackers warrant prompt remediation to protect organizational data and maintain regulatory compliance.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Prioritize updating all Apple devices to the patched OS versions: macOS Ventura 13.7.1 or later, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1 or later, iOS/iPadOS 18.1 or 17.7.1, watchOS 11.1, and visionOS 2.1. 2) Enforce strict device management policies using Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to ensure timely deployment of security updates. 3) Limit installation of untrusted or unnecessary sandboxed applications to reduce the attack surface. 4) Monitor and audit local user privileges and access controls to prevent unauthorized local access. 5) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect suspicious local activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. 6) Educate users about the risks of installing unverified apps and the importance of applying updates promptly. 7) Review logging and monitoring configurations to detect unusual access to system logs. These targeted measures go beyond generic patching advice by focusing on access control, application management, and monitoring to reduce exploitation likelihood.