CVE-2024-44301 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2024
The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, macOS Ventura 13.7.1. A malicious application may be able to modify protected parts of the file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2026
This vulnerability represents a significant security flaw in apple's macOS operating system that allows malicious applications to potentially modify protected file system components. The issue stems from inadequate validation mechanisms that fail to properly restrict access to critical system directories and files. According to the security advisory, the vulnerability was addressed through enhanced validation checks that strengthen the integrity protections of the file system. The affected versions include macOS Sequoia 15.0 through 15.0.1, macOS Sonoma 14.6 through 14.7.0, and macOS Ventura 13.6 through 13.7.0, indicating a widespread impact across multiple operating system releases. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of privilege escalation and file system manipulation, which aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tactics and techniques framework. The ability for a malicious application to modify protected parts of the file system represents a serious threat to system integrity and can potentially lead to persistent malware installations or system compromise. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining robust access controls and file system protections. The fix implemented by apple involves strengthening the validation mechanisms that govern file system access, which corresponds to defensive measures recommended in the common weakness enumeration catalog. The vulnerability's classification as a file system integrity issue suggests potential exploitation through techniques that leverage application sandboxing bypasses or privilege escalation vectors. Organizations should note that this vulnerability could enable attackers to undermine the security model of macOS by gaining unauthorized write access to protected system components. The patch addresses the root cause by implementing more stringent checks that prevent unauthorized modifications to critical file system areas. This represents a defensive measure against potential exploitation where attackers might attempt to modify system binaries, configuration files, or other protected resources. The security implications extend beyond simple file system access, as this vulnerability could potentially enable more sophisticated attacks that rely on modifying system components to maintain persistence or escalate privileges. The affected systems represent a broad range of apple devices that utilize the affected operating system versions, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a deployment and mitigation standpoint.
The technical implementation of the fix involves strengthening the validation checks that govern file system modifications, which addresses the underlying security gap that allowed malicious applications to bypass normal access restrictions. This type of vulnerability commonly relates to improper access control mechanisms that fail to properly enforce security boundaries between user applications and protected system resources. The issue manifests when applications attempt to write to or modify protected file system components without proper authorization, potentially compromising system integrity and security policies. Security researchers have identified this as a file system protection bypass that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to critical system areas. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it undermines fundamental security principles that protect system stability and user data integrity. Organizations should prioritize updating affected systems to the patched versions, specifically macOS Sequoia 15.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, and macOS Ventura 13.7.1, to prevent potential exploitation. The implementation of enhanced validation checks represents a defensive approach that aligns with industry best practices for maintaining file system integrity. This vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and the need for organizations to maintain current operating system versions to protect against known exploits. The fix addresses the specific security gap that allowed malicious applications to modify protected file system areas, which corresponds to established cybersecurity protocols for protecting system resources. The mitigation strategy focuses on strengthening access controls and validation mechanisms to prevent unauthorized modifications to critical system components. This approach aligns with the principle of least privilege and helps maintain the security boundaries that protect against malicious file system manipulation attempts. Security professionals should monitor for any indicators of exploitation attempts related to this vulnerability and ensure that all affected systems receive the appropriate patches to maintain operational security posture.