CVE-2024-44142: Apple GarageBand RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-44142 Overview

CVE-2024-44142 is a memory safety vulnerability in Apple GarageBand's image processing routines. Processing a maliciously crafted image can trigger an out-of-bounds condition that leads to arbitrary code execution in the context of the user running GarageBand. Apple addressed the flaw with improved bounds checks in GarageBand 10.4.12.

The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, such as opening a crafted project or image file. Successful exploitation compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the affected macOS host.

Critical Impact
Opening a crafted image in GarageBand versions prior to 10.4.12 can result in arbitrary code execution on the local system.

Affected Products

Apple GarageBand versions prior to 10.4.12
macOS installations with vulnerable GarageBand builds
Systems where users open untrusted GarageBand projects or image assets

Discovery Timeline

2025-01-30 - CVE-2024-44142 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-44142

Vulnerability Analysis

The flaw resides in GarageBand's image handling logic, where insufficient bounds checking allows attacker-controlled image data to trigger a memory corruption condition. When GarageBand parses a malformed image, it fails to validate size or offset fields before accessing memory. The result is an out-of-bounds access that an attacker can shape into arbitrary code execution.

Apple's advisory describes the remediation as "improved bounds checks," indicating the root defect was a missing or incorrect boundary validation on parsed image structures. The NVD entry does not disclose a specific CWE classification beyond NVD-CWE-noinfo.

Exploitation runs with the privileges of the user who opens the file. On typical macOS workstations, this yields access to user documents, credentials in the keychain scope of that user, and any accessible network resources.

Root Cause

The root cause is inadequate input validation on image data structures processed by GarageBand. Parser code trusted attacker-controlled length or offset fields without verifying they fit within allocated buffers. This class of defect commonly produces out-of-bounds reads or writes exploitable for code execution.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a crafted image, likely embedded in a GarageBand project file or presented as an importable asset, through phishing, a malicious download, or removable media. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable GarageBand version, the parser triggers the memory corruption and executes attacker-supplied code.

No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available. See the Apple Support Article and the Full Disclosure Mailing List Post for vendor and community disclosure details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-44142

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by the GarageBand application bundle after opening a project or image file
GarageBand crash reports in ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/ referencing image parsing frames or memory access violations
Newly created executables, LaunchAgents, or LaunchDaemons following GarageBand file open events

Detection Strategies

Monitor macOS endpoints for anomalous process trees where GarageBand invokes shells, scripting interpreters, or network utilities
Alert on file writes by GarageBand to sensitive locations such as ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ or /Library/LaunchDaemons/
Correlate GarageBand crashes with subsequent persistence or lateral movement activity within the same session

Monitoring Recommendations

Inventory installed GarageBand versions across managed macOS fleets and flag any build below 10.4.12
Track ingress of .band project files and image assets from email or web downloads before user execution
Retain endpoint telemetry for GarageBand process behavior to support retrospective threat hunting

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-44142

Immediate Actions Required

Update GarageBand to version 10.4.12 or later through the Mac App Store on all affected macOS systems
Instruct users to avoid opening GarageBand projects or image files received from untrusted sources until patching is complete
Prioritize patching on systems used by creative and production teams that regularly exchange GarageBand assets

Patch Information

Apple released the fix in GarageBand 10.4.12, which introduces improved bounds checks in the affected image processing code path. Refer to the Apple Support Article for the official advisory and version details.

Workarounds

Restrict GarageBand execution on systems that do not require it using macOS application controls or MDM policies
Block delivery of GarageBand project files from external email senders at the mail gateway
Enforce standard user accounts to limit the blast radius of code executed through GarageBand

bash

# Verify installed GarageBand version on macOS
mdls -name kMDItemVersion /Applications/GarageBand.app

# Or query via defaults
defaults read /Applications/GarageBand.app/Contents/Info.plist CFBundleShortVersionString