CVE-2024-44300 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
A logic issue was addressed with improved file handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.2, macOS Sonoma 14.7.2, macOS Ventura 13.7.2. An app may be able to access protected user data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2026
This vulnerability represents a logic flaw in Apple's macOS operating system that affects file handling mechanisms and potentially allows unauthorized access to protected user data. The issue was specifically addressed through updates to multiple macOS versions including Sequoia 15.2, Sonoma 14.7.2, and Ventura 13.7.2, indicating the severity of the flaw across different system generations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation or improper handling of file operations that could be exploited by malicious applications to bypass normal access controls and retrieve sensitive user information.
The technical nature of this logic issue suggests that it involves flawed decision-making processes within the system's file access controls or permission management mechanisms. When applications attempt to interact with files or directories, the system should enforce appropriate security boundaries to prevent unauthorized access to user data. However, this flaw allows certain applications to circumvent these security checks through improper file handling procedures. The vulnerability likely exists in the kernel-level file system operations or in the user-space file access APIs that govern how applications interact with protected data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for user privacy and data protection. An attacker could potentially craft malicious applications that exploit this logic flaw to access sensitive user information such as personal documents, photos, communications, or other protected data stored on the system. The impact extends beyond individual users to enterprise environments where macOS systems may host confidential business data. The vulnerability's presence across multiple macOS versions indicates that it was a fundamental logic flaw rather than a specific implementation error, making it potentially exploitable across a wide range of affected systems.
The fix implemented by Apple addresses this issue through improved file handling mechanisms that strengthen the validation processes and access control enforcement. This aligns with common security practices for addressing logic flaws in operating systems where proper input validation and access control checks are essential. The remediation approach likely involves tightening the security boundaries around file operations, improving the enforcement of user permissions, and ensuring that applications cannot bypass normal file access controls through flawed logic paths. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of continuous security auditing of core operating system functions, particularly those related to file system access and user data protection.
The issue can be classified under CWE-252, which deals with unchecked return values, and potentially CWE-284, which addresses improper access control. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to T1059.001 for execution through command and script interpreters and T1074.001 for data staging through local data staging. The remediation process requires system administrators to deploy the latest macOS updates across all affected devices to ensure proper file handling and access control enforcement is restored. Organizations should prioritize this update as part of their vulnerability management programs, particularly in environments where macOS systems handle sensitive or regulated data.