CVE-2024-44133: Apple macOS Privacy Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-44133 Overview

This issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15. On MDM managed devices, an app may be able to bypass certain Privacy preferences.

Critical Impact
Medium severity vulnerability allowing apps to bypass Privacy preferences on MDM managed devices in macOS Sequoia 15.

Affected Products

Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2024-09-17 - CVE CVE-2024-44133 published to NVD
2025-11-04 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-44133

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability allows an application to bypass privacy preferences set on MDM managed devices. It occurs due to the presence of vulnerable code that was later removed to address the issue.

Root Cause

The cause of the vulnerability was identified in the macOS privacy management code, which failed to enforce preference restrictions properly.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local, requiring an attacker with prior access to the device to exploit the bypass.

python

# Example exploitation code (sanitized)
def privacy_bypass():
    # Bypass logic for demonstration purposes
    print("Privacy preferences bypassed")

privacy_bypass()

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-44133

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected permissions escalation
Modifications to MDM configuration without user consent
Logs indicating unauthorized access attempts

Detection Strategies

Monitoring application behaviors that attempt to modify privacy settings outside of usual processes can indicate exploitation attempts. Analyze logs for unauthorized configuration changes.

Monitoring Recommendations

Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions like SentinelOne to monitor changes in device configuration and detect anomalies in application behavior.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-44133

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict access to devices without proper authorization
Review and audit MDM policies
Monitor device logs for suspicious activity

Patch Information

Apple has removed the vulnerable code fragment in macOS Sequoia 15. It's recommended to update to this version or later.

Workarounds

For environments unable to immediately apply the patch, restricting app permissions and regularly auditing device configurations can help mitigate the risks.

bash

# Configuration example
sudo /usr/bin/profiles -X
# Review MDM management and update configurations