CVE-2024-44159 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2024
A path deletion vulnerability was addressed by preventing vulnerable code from running with privileges. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, macOS Ventura 13.7.1. An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2026
This vulnerability represents a path deletion flaw that emerged in apple's operating system ecosystem, specifically affecting multiple versions of macos including sequoia 15.1, sonoma 14.7.1, and ventura 13.7.1. The issue stems from insufficient privilege controls during path deletion operations, creating potential security gaps in the system's access control mechanisms. The vulnerability allows for unauthorized path manipulation that could enable malicious applications to bypass established privacy preferences. From a cybersecurity perspective, this represents a critical weakness in the operating system's privilege separation model, where code execution with elevated privileges might be inadvertently triggered during file system operations. The flaw specifically impacts how the system handles path deletion routines, potentially allowing applications to manipulate file paths in ways that circumvent normal security boundaries. This vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations such as cwe-22 path traversal and cwe-787 out-of-bounds write, though the specific manifestation involves privilege escalation during deletion operations. The security implications extend beyond simple path manipulation to encompass broader privacy control bypass mechanisms that could affect user data protection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the operating system's handling of file system deletion operations where insufficient privilege checks allow code paths to execute with elevated permissions. When applications attempt to delete files or directories, the system's privilege validation mechanisms fail to properly restrict access, creating opportunities for malicious code execution. The fix implemented by apple involves strengthening privilege validation checks during path deletion operations, ensuring that only appropriately authorized code can execute these potentially dangerous operations. This remediation addresses the root cause by preventing vulnerable code from running with elevated privileges during deletion processes, thereby closing the security gap that allowed privacy preference bypasses. The operational impact of this vulnerability means that an attacker could potentially manipulate file system paths to access or delete files that should normally be restricted based on user privacy settings. This creates a significant risk for user data confidentiality and integrity, as applications could potentially access sensitive information or modify system files without proper authorization.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus on immediate system updates to the patched versions of macos, specifically targeting sequoia 15.1, sonoma 14.7.1, and ventura 13.7.1. Organizations should prioritize deployment of these updates across all affected systems to prevent exploitation. Security administrators should implement monitoring for suspicious file system deletion activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under attack techniques such as privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms means that defensive measures should include process monitoring and privilege auditing. Network security teams should monitor for potential exploitation indicators such as unusual file deletion patterns or unauthorized access attempts to privacy-sensitive directories. The fix addresses the underlying issue by implementing stricter privilege validation during deletion operations, ensuring that applications cannot bypass normal access controls. This aligns with security best practices outlined in nist cybersecurity framework and iso/iec 27001 standards for access control and privilege management. The vulnerability's resolution demonstrates apple's commitment to addressing security gaps in their operating system, though organizations should maintain awareness of potential exploitation vectors during the transition period before full patch deployment. Continuous security monitoring and vulnerability assessment programs should include checks for similar privilege escalation vectors in other operating system components. The remediation approach taken by apple follows established security principles of least privilege and defense in depth, ensuring that system operations cannot proceed with elevated privileges unless explicitly authorized through proper validation processes.