CVE-2024-44307
📋 TL;DR
A buffer overflow vulnerability in macOS allows malicious applications to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. This affects macOS systems before Sonoma 14.6, potentially giving attackers full system control.
💻 Affected Systems
- macOS
📦 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...
Learn more about Macos →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with kernel-level privileges, allowing attackers to install persistent malware, steal sensitive data, or disable security controls.
Likely Case
Malicious applications exploiting this to gain elevated privileges, potentially leading to data theft or system manipulation.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper application sandboxing and least privilege principles are enforced, though kernel access remains dangerous.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires a malicious application to be executed on the target system. No public exploit code is currently available.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: macOS Sonoma 14.6
Vendor Advisory: https://support.apple.com/en-us/120911
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open System Settings 2. Click General 3. Click Software Update 4. Install macOS Sonoma 14.6 update 5. Restart when prompted
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Application Restriction
allRestrict installation and execution of untrusted applications to reduce attack surface
sudo spctl --master-enable
sudo spctl --enable --label "Developer ID"
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict application allowlisting to prevent execution of untrusted applications
- Enforce least privilege principles and monitor for suspicious kernel-level activity
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check macOS version in System Settings > General > About. If version is earlier than 14.6, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
sw_versVerify Fix Applied:
Verify macOS version shows 14.6 or later in System Settings > General > About.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected kernel extensions loading
- Suspicious privilege escalation attempts in system logs
- Unusual application behavior with elevated privileges
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from system processes
- Command and control traffic from kernel-level processes
SIEM Query:
source="macos_system_logs" AND (event="kernel_extension_load" OR event="privilege_escalation")