CVE-2024-44161 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2024
An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved bounds checking. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15, macOS Sonoma 14.7, macOS Ventura 13.7. Processing a maliciously crafted texture may lead to unexpected app termination.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw that affects Apple's macOS operating system across multiple versions including Sequoia 15, Sonoma 14.7, and Ventura 13.7. The issue stems from insufficient bounds checking during texture processing operations, which allows attackers to craft malicious texture files that can trigger memory access violations. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient validation of length of inputs, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to cause application crashes or potentially more severe consequences. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the graphics processing level where texture data is commonly handled in multimedia applications, games, and professional software that relies on rich visual content rendering.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to prepare a specially crafted texture file that, when processed by an affected application, triggers the out-of-bounds memory read condition. This type of flaw typically occurs when applications fail to properly validate the size or boundaries of texture data before accessing memory locations, allowing the program to read data beyond the intended buffer limits. The out-of-bounds read can result in unpredictable behavior including application termination, memory corruption, or in more severe cases, information disclosure if the read operation accesses sensitive memory regions. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, though in this case it's more accurately classified as a memory corruption vulnerability that could potentially enable privilege escalation or code execution depending on the specific context of exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can affect the stability and reliability of systems that process multimedia content. Applications such as photo editors, video processing software, gaming platforms, and professional design tools that handle external texture files are particularly at risk. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic security weakness in input validation where the system fails to properly validate the boundaries of texture data before processing, creating a potential attack surface that could be leveraged in targeted attacks. From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability could be exploited in supply chain attacks where malicious actors distribute compromised texture assets through legitimate channels, or in social engineering campaigns where users unknowingly download and open malicious files. The fix implemented by Apple addresses the root cause through enhanced bounds checking mechanisms that properly validate texture dimensions and memory access boundaries before any processing occurs.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment across all affected macOS versions, with particular attention to systems that process external multimedia content regularly. Organizations should implement additional security measures such as sandboxing applications that handle texture files, network monitoring for suspicious file transfers, and regular security assessments of multimedia processing workflows. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and bounds checking in preventing memory corruption issues, aligning with industry best practices outlined in secure coding standards and the OWASP Top Ten security risks. Security teams should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect potentially malicious texture files in their networks and establish incident response procedures specifically for handling out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. Regular security awareness training for users handling multimedia content is also recommended to prevent accidental exploitation through phishing attacks or malicious file downloads.