CVE-2024-44287 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that permits a malicious application to modify protected parts of the file system. The root cause is insufficient authorization checks (classified under CWE-863), which allow an unprivileged application to bypass normal security controls that prevent unauthorized modifications to critical system files or directories. The vulnerability requires user interaction, such as running or installing the malicious application, but does not require prior privileges or authentication. The impact is primarily on system integrity, as unauthorized modifications to protected file system areas can enable persistence mechanisms, tampering with system components, or facilitate further attacks. Confidentiality and availability are not directly affected. Apple addressed this issue in macOS Ventura 13.7.1 and macOS Sonoma 14.7.1 by implementing improved authorization checks to prevent unauthorized file system modifications. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting the local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction needed, and the impact limited to integrity. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, but the vulnerability poses a risk especially in environments where users may install untrusted software. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions of macOS prior to the patched releases, so organizations running earlier versions remain vulnerable.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the integrity of macOS systems. Attackers could leverage this flaw to implant persistent malware, modify system binaries, or alter security configurations, potentially leading to prolonged compromise or lateral movement within networks. Although confidentiality and availability are not directly impacted, integrity violations can undermine trust in system operations and complicate incident response. Organizations with macOS endpoints used in sensitive roles, such as software development, research, or critical infrastructure management, may face increased risk. The requirement for user interaction means social engineering or phishing could be used to trigger exploitation. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits over time. Failure to patch could lead to targeted attacks against high-value European entities, including government agencies, financial institutions, and technology firms that rely on macOS platforms.

European organizations should immediately verify macOS versions in use and deploy the security updates macOS Ventura 13.7.1 and macOS Sonoma 14.7.1 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict application control policies using Apple’s built-in tools such as Gatekeeper and System Integrity Protection (SIP) to limit the execution of untrusted or unsigned applications. User education campaigns should emphasize the risks of installing unknown software and the importance of verifying application sources. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions should be tuned to detect anomalous file system modifications indicative of exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be applied to limit the impact of compromised macOS devices. Regular integrity monitoring of critical system files can help detect unauthorized changes early. Finally, organizations should maintain up-to-date inventories of macOS assets to ensure timely patch management and vulnerability tracking.