CVE-2024-44271 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/29/2025
The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.2. An app may be able to record the screen without an indicator.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-44271 represents a significant security flaw in macOS Sequoia 15.2 that undermines the system's fundamental privacy protections. This issue specifically relates to the screen recording functionality within the operating system's security framework, where applications can potentially capture screen content without proper user notification or visual indicators. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that should normally enforce explicit user consent and visibility requirements before any screen recording activity can commence. The flaw exists in the kernel extension or system-level component responsible for managing screen capture permissions, creating a potential attack vector where malicious software could exploit this weakness to perform unauthorized screen recording operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the system's access control mechanisms that should enforce the principle of least privilege and explicit user consent. According to CWE-613, this weakness falls under insufficient session management where security-relevant state information is not properly validated or checked before granting access to sensitive system resources. The flaw essentially bypasses the standard permission prompts that users expect to see when an application attempts to access their screen content, allowing for covert surveillance activities that could capture sensitive information including passwords, personal data, financial information, and confidential communications. This represents a critical failure in the operating system's security model that violates fundamental privacy principles and user expectations.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-44271 extends beyond simple privacy concerns to encompass potential data breaches, identity theft, and corporate espionage scenarios. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to deploy malicious applications that silently record user activities, capturing keystrokes, screen interactions, and sensitive information without any visual indication to the user. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering and credential access methods, demonstrates how this flaw could be exploited as part of broader attack chains. Organizations using affected macOS versions face increased risk of insider threats and targeted attacks where adversaries can maintain persistent surveillance capabilities without detection. The lack of visual indicators makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it operates entirely outside of normal user awareness mechanisms, potentially allowing attackers to maintain long-term surveillance without discovery.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-44271 require immediate system updates to macOS Sequoia 15.2 where the vulnerability has been addressed through enhanced validation checks and improved permission enforcement mechanisms. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring of screen recording activities and establish baseline behaviors for legitimate applications to detect anomalous usage patterns. The fix incorporates additional verification steps that ensure all screen recording requests must be explicitly authorized and visually indicated to users, aligning with security standards that require transparent and user-consistent access controls. Organizations should also conduct regular security audits to verify that no unauthorized applications have gained persistent access to screen recording capabilities and implement endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify suspicious screen capture activities. Additionally, user education regarding the importance of reviewing application permissions and recognizing potential signs of unauthorized surveillance remains critical to maintaining overall security posture.