CVE-2024-44211 – This vulnerability allows malicious application... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-44211?

CVE-2024-44211 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (MEDIUM). This vulnerability allows malicious applications to bypass symlink validation and access sensitive user data on macOS. It affects macOS systems before Sequoia 15.1. The issue involves improper handling of symbolic links that could lead to unauthorized data access.

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability allows malicious applications to bypass symlink validation and access sensitive user data on macOS. It affects macOS systems before Sequoia 15.1. The issue involves improper handling of symbolic links that could lead to unauthorized data access.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

macOS

Versions: Versions before macOS Sequoia 15.1

Operating Systems: macOS

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: All default macOS installations before Sequoia 15.1 are vulnerable. Requires malicious application execution.

📦 What is this software?

Macos by Apple

macOS is Apple's desktop and laptop operating system powering Mac computers used by millions of professionals, developers, creative professionals, and enterprise users worldwide. Built on a Unix foundation with the Darwin kernel and modern Cocoa frameworks, macOS delivers a seamless ecosystem integr...

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⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Malicious app could access sensitive user files including documents, credentials, or personal data stored in user directories.

🟠

Likely Case

Malicious applications distributed through unofficial channels could exploit this to steal user data from compromised systems.

🟢

If Mitigated

With proper app sandboxing and only installing trusted applications from official sources, impact is minimal.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - This requires local application execution, not directly exploitable over network.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Malicious internal applications or compromised legitimate apps could exploit this to access user data.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Exploitation requires creating a malicious application that users must install and run. No public exploit code identified.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: macOS Sequoia 15.1

Vendor Advisory: https://support.apple.com/en-us/121564

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Open System Settings 2. Click General 3. Click Software Update 4. Install macOS Sequoia 15.1 update 5. Restart when prompted

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Restrict Application Installation

all

Only allow installation of applications from App Store and identified developers

Enable Gatekeeper

all

Ensure Gatekeeper is enabled to verify applications before running

sudo spctl --master-enable

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Only install applications from trusted sources and official App Store
Implement application allowlisting to prevent unauthorized app execution

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check macOS version: if before Sequoia 15.1, system is vulnerable

Check Version:

sw_vers

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify macOS version is 15.1 or later after update

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unusual file access patterns by applications
Symlink creation in sensitive directories

Network Indicators:

Not applicable - local vulnerability

SIEM Query:

Not applicable - local file system access vulnerability

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-44211

CVSS v3 Score: 5.5 (MEDIUM)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CWE: CWE-59

Published: December 20, 2024

Last Updated: November 3, 2025

🔗 References

https://support.apple.com/en-us/121564 Vendor Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Oct/11

📤 Share & Export

📄 Export Markdown 📋 Export JSON

🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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