CVE-2024-44195: Apple macOS Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2024-44195 Overview

CVE-2024-44195 is a logic flaw in Apple macOS that allows a malicious application to read arbitrary files on the system. Apple addressed the issue with improved validation in macOS Sequoia 15.1. The flaw is categorized under [CWE-22] (Path Traversal), indicating that input handling failed to constrain file access to authorized paths.

The vulnerability impacts confidentiality but does not affect integrity or availability. An application running on a vulnerable host can bypass intended file system access boundaries and retrieve sensitive user or system data.

Critical Impact
An installed application can read arbitrary files on macOS Sequoia 15.0, exposing credentials, configuration data, and user documents outside the app sandbox boundaries.

Affected Products

Apple macOS Sequoia 15.0
Apple macOS versions prior to Sequoia 15.1
Systems running unpatched macOS Sequoia builds

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-20 - CVE-2024-44195 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2025-11-03 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-44195

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-44195 originates from a logic flaw in macOS file access validation. The defect allows an application to circumvent file system access controls and read files it should not be authorized to access. Apple's advisory describes the remediation as "improved validation," indicating that prior validation logic did not adequately verify the legitimacy or scope of file path requests.

The issue maps to [CWE-22], Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. This class of vulnerability typically permits attacker-supplied input to escape an intended directory and reference arbitrary paths on the file system.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient validation of file path inputs or access control decisions within a macOS component. Apple has not published low-level technical details. The patch in macOS Sequoia 15.1 corrects the validation logic so file access requests are properly constrained.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires a malicious or compromised application running on the target system. Once executing, the application leverages the flawed validation logic to read files outside its sandbox or permission scope. No user interaction is required beyond installing or executing the offending application. See the Apple Support Article and the Full Disclosure Mailing List Post for additional context.

No public proof-of-concept exploit code is referenced in the NVD entry for this CVE.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-44195

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected read access by user-installed applications to files outside their declared sandbox container
Application processes accessing sensitive paths such as /etc, ~/Library/Keychains, or ~/Library/Application Support belonging to other apps
Anomalous spikes in file open operations from non-privileged applications

Detection Strategies

Monitor Endpoint Security Framework (ESF) events for file open operations originating from applications that historically do not access those paths
Audit Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) prompts and decisions for unusual access requests to protected user data
Correlate file access telemetry with application code signing identity to detect untrusted or recently installed binaries reading sensitive files

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose macOS Unified Logging for file system subsystems and forward to a centralized SIEM for retention and analysis
Track macOS version inventory across the fleet and alert on hosts remaining on 15.0 or earlier Sequoia builds
Baseline normal file access patterns per application and alert on deviations such as access to keychain or browser profile directories

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-44195

Immediate Actions Required

Update all macOS Sequoia systems to version 15.1 or later as published in the Apple Support Article
Inventory macOS endpoints and prioritize patching hosts handling sensitive data or privileged accounts
Restrict installation of unsigned or untrusted applications via Gatekeeper and mobile device management (MDM) policies

Patch Information

Apple fixed CVE-2024-44195 in macOS Sequoia 15.1 by introducing improved validation in the affected component. Administrators should deploy the update through Software Update or their MDM solution. Refer to the Apple Support Article for the complete advisory and build details.

Workarounds

No vendor-supplied workaround exists; upgrading to macOS Sequoia 15.1 is the only supported remediation
Limit the installation of third-party applications to vetted sources and enforce code signing requirements until the patch is applied
Apply least-privilege principles to user accounts to reduce the scope of files an exploited application can access

bash

# Verify macOS version and trigger software update check
sw_vers -productVersion
sudo softwareupdate -l
sudo softwareupdate -ia --restart