CVE-2024-44297 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS and other Apple operating systems such as iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS. The root cause is insufficient bounds checking when processing certain messages, which can be maliciously crafted to trigger a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. This means that an attacker can send a specially designed message that, when processed by the vulnerable system, causes the system or application to crash or become unresponsive, thereby impacting availability. The vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity, as it does not allow data leakage or unauthorized modification. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R) to trigger the vulnerability. The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact is limited to availability (A:H). Apple has addressed this issue by improving bounds checks in the affected components, releasing patches in macOS Ventura 13.7.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, and corresponding updates for other Apple OSes. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, but the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted denial-of-service attacks. The affected versions are unspecified but include all versions prior to the patched releases. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for environments where Apple devices are used in critical roles or where service availability is paramount.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-44297 is the potential for denial-of-service attacks against Apple devices running vulnerable versions of macOS or other Apple operating systems. This could disrupt business operations, especially in sectors relying heavily on Apple hardware such as creative industries, education, and certain government agencies. The denial-of-service could manifest as application crashes or system unavailability, leading to productivity loss and potential operational delays. Since the vulnerability requires user interaction, phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to deliver the malicious message, increasing the risk in environments with less user awareness. Although confidentiality and integrity are not directly impacted, the availability disruption could indirectly affect service delivery and incident response capabilities. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces using Apple devices may face increased exposure. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat of future exploitation. Overall, the impact is moderate but significant enough to warrant prompt remediation in European contexts where Apple device usage is substantial.

European organizations should prioritize deploying the security updates released by Apple, specifically macOS Ventura 13.7.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, and corresponding updates for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS. IT teams must ensure all Apple devices are updated promptly to eliminate the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should enhance user awareness training to recognize and avoid interacting with suspicious messages that could trigger the vulnerability. Network-level protections such as filtering or blocking suspicious message traffic may help reduce exposure, especially in managed environments. Monitoring for unusual application crashes or system reboots on Apple devices can provide early detection of exploitation attempts. Implementing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions that support macOS can aid in identifying anomalous behavior related to this vulnerability. Organizations should also review and restrict unnecessary network services that process external messages to minimize attack surface. Finally, maintaining an inventory of Apple devices and their OS versions will facilitate targeted patch management and risk assessment.