CVE-2024-44129 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2024
The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15, macOS Ventura 13.7. An app may be able to leak sensitive user information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2026
This vulnerability represents a sensitive information disclosure flaw that affects Apple's macOS operating system across multiple versions including macOS Sequoia 15 and macOS Ventura 13.7. The issue was resolved through enhanced validation mechanisms, indicating that prior to the fix, certain applications could potentially access or transmit user data without proper authorization. The vulnerability falls under the category of information exposure, where unauthorized data access could occur through application-level flaws in the operating system's security controls. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning as it could enable attackers to extract personal information, credentials, or other sensitive data that should remain protected within the system's security boundaries. The fix implemented by Apple demonstrates a proactive approach to addressing potential security gaps in their operating system architecture.
The technical nature of this vulnerability suggests a weakness in the operating system's privilege separation mechanisms or data access controls that allowed applications to bypass normal security restrictions. This could involve improper validation of application permissions, insufficient sandboxing controls, or flaws in the system's inter-process communication protocols. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure" and encompasses scenarios where system information is accessible to unauthorized entities. The implementation of improved checks indicates that the original flaw likely involved inadequate input validation or insufficient access control enforcement that permitted unauthorized data leakage through application interfaces.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability could have enabled malicious applications to access sensitive user data that should remain protected within the system's secure environment. The potential impact includes exposure of personal information, authentication credentials, or other confidential data that users expect to be protected. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform reconnaissance activities or conduct more sophisticated attacks by gathering intelligence about user activities, system configurations, or personal information. The risk level is elevated because the vulnerability affects core operating system functionality and could potentially be exploited by both malicious applications and sophisticated attackers who might craft specific payloads to trigger the information leakage. This type of vulnerability directly impacts user privacy and system integrity, representing a breach in the fundamental security assumptions of the operating system.
Organizations and individual users should prioritize updating to the patched versions of macOS including Sequoia 15 and Ventura 13.7 to address this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy involves ensuring that all affected systems are updated with the latest security patches from Apple, which implement the improved validation checks that prevent unauthorized data access. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory checks to identify all affected systems and deploy the updates through appropriate enterprise management tools. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, monitoring for unusual data access patterns, and conducting regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's resolution through enhanced checks aligns with the principle of defense in depth, where multiple layers of security controls work together to protect against information disclosure threats. Security teams should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation attempts and maintain awareness of related threats in the cybersecurity landscape that might leverage similar attack vectors.