CVE-2024-44301 is a vulnerability in Apple macOS that permits a malicious application to modify protected parts of the file system due to inadequate access control checks (CWE-863). The vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or availability but impacts system integrity by allowing unauthorized changes to critical system files or directories. The attack vector requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is limited to the vulnerable component. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity). Apple fixed this issue in macOS Ventura 13.7.1 and macOS Sonoma 14.7.1 by enhancing the checks that prevent unauthorized modifications. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported. The vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers who trick users into running malicious applications, potentially enabling persistence mechanisms or further system compromise by altering protected files. Since the vulnerability requires user interaction and local access, remote exploitation is not feasible. The lack of confidentiality and availability impact reduces the overall severity but the integrity impact remains significant for system security.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the integrity of macOS systems. Unauthorized modification of protected file system areas could allow attackers to implant persistent malware, alter system binaries, or bypass security controls. This can lead to prolonged undetected compromise, data manipulation, or disruption of security monitoring. Organizations relying on macOS for critical operations, software development, or sensitive data processing may face increased risk of targeted attacks leveraging this flaw. Although exploitation requires user interaction and local access, social engineering or insider threats could facilitate attacks. The absence of confidentiality and availability impact limits direct data breaches or service outages, but integrity violations can undermine trust in system reliability and security. The medium severity suggests a moderate but non-negligible threat, especially in environments with lax application controls or high macOS usage.

1. Apply the official Apple patches immediately by upgrading to macOS Ventura 13.7.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, or later versions to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Enforce strict application installation policies using Apple’s Gatekeeper and notarization requirements to prevent execution of untrusted or malicious applications. 3. Educate users about the risks of running unknown or suspicious applications to reduce the likelihood of social engineering exploitation. 4. Implement endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting unauthorized file system modifications and suspicious behaviors on macOS devices. 5. Regularly audit system integrity using tools like Apple’s System Integrity Protection (SIP) status checks and file integrity monitoring to detect anomalies early. 6. Limit local user privileges where possible to reduce the attack surface and prevent unauthorized application installations. 7. Monitor logs and alerts for unusual file system activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. These steps go beyond generic patching by emphasizing user awareness, application control, and proactive monitoring tailored to macOS environments.