CVE-2024-44225: Apple iPadOS Privilege Escalation Bug

CVE-2024-44225 Overview

CVE-2024-44225 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems. Apple describes the root cause as a logic issue that was resolved with improved checks. A malicious application running on an affected device can leverage the flaw to gain elevated privileges beyond what the app was authorized to hold.

Apple addressed the issue in iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, iPadOS 17.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.2, macOS Sonoma 14.7.2, macOS Ventura 13.7.2, tvOS 18.2, and watchOS 11.2. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, which limits remote exploitation but still poses risk for endpoint compromise chains.

Critical Impact
A local application can escape its expected privilege boundary and gain elevated privileges on affected Apple devices, enabling further compromise.

Affected Products

Apple iOS and iPadOS (fixed in iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and iPadOS 17.7.3)
Apple macOS Ventura 13.7.2, macOS Sonoma 14.7.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2
Apple tvOS 18.2 and watchOS 11.2

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-12 - CVE-2024-44225 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-44225

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-44225 is a privilege escalation flaw rooted in flawed logic within an Apple operating system component. Apple's advisories state the issue was addressed with improved checks, indicating that a code path failed to correctly validate a security-relevant condition before permitting an action. The result is that an application running under normal user privileges can perform operations that should have required higher privileges.

The vulnerability spans Apple's shared codebase, which explains the concurrent patch releases across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Apple has not published detailed root-cause information beyond the advisory text. The vulnerability is categorized under NVD-CWE-noinfo because Apple did not disclose a specific CWE classification.

Root Cause

The root cause is a logic error in an operating system component that made a security decision based on incomplete or incorrect state validation. The fix introduces additional checks to close the gap. Without those checks, a crafted application can trigger the vulnerable code path and reach a privileged operation the caller should not be authorized to invoke.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires an attacker to place a malicious application on the target device and induce a user to run it. Once executing locally, the application triggers the vulnerable logic path to escalate its privileges. This maps to common post-installation abuse patterns such as sideloaded applications, App Store apps that pass initial review, or second-stage payloads dropped by a prior compromise.

Exploitation code is not available. No public proof-of-concept has been released,
and Apple has not published technical details beyond stating that a logic issue
was addressed with improved checks. Refer to Apple's security advisories linked
below for the list of fixed components and OS versions.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-44225

Indicators of Compromise

No public indicators of compromise have been published for CVE-2024-44225.
Apple has not disclosed the specific component affected, limiting the ability to define signature-based indicators.
Monitor for unsigned or newly installed applications on managed Apple endpoints that spawn privileged processes shortly after launch.

Detection Strategies

Track process lineage on macOS to identify user-space applications that unexpectedly obtain root or system-owned tokens.
Correlate installation of new applications with subsequent access to sensitive system paths or privileged XPC services.
Use mobile device management (MDM) telemetry to identify Apple endpoints still running versions earlier than the patched releases.

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest macOS Endpoint Security framework events into your SIEM or data lake to observe privilege transitions and process executions.
Alert on execution of applications from non-standard directories or applications lacking valid Apple notarization.
Review MDM compliance dashboards regularly to confirm devices are upgraded to iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 or 17.7.3, macOS 13.7.2, 14.7.2, or 15.2, tvOS 18.2, and watchOS 11.2.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-44225

Immediate Actions Required

Update all affected Apple devices to the patched OS versions listed in Apple's advisories.
Prioritize managed macOS endpoints where local users can install third-party applications.
Restrict application installation sources to trusted channels such as the App Store and enforce Gatekeeper on macOS.
Review privileged application inventories and remove unused or untrusted applications from endpoints.

Patch Information

Apple released fixes in iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, iPadOS 17.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.2, macOS Sonoma 14.7.2, macOS Ventura 13.7.2, tvOS 18.2, and watchOS 11.2. Refer to the vendor advisories: Apple Support Document #121837, Apple Support Document #121838, Apple Support Document #121839, Apple Support Document #121840, Apple Support Document #121842, Apple Support Document #121843, and Apple Support Document #121844.

Workarounds

No vendor-published workarounds exist. Patching is the only supported remediation path.
Reduce exposure by limiting local user privileges and enforcing least-privilege application policies through MDM.
On macOS, verify that System Integrity Protection (SIP) and Gatekeeper remain enabled to raise the bar for follow-on exploitation.

bash

# Verify installed macOS version on managed endpoints
sw_vers -productVersion

# Check iOS/iPadOS version via MDM query or on-device Settings > General > About
# Ensure the reported version is one of:
#   iOS/iPadOS 18.2, iPadOS 17.7.3
#   macOS 13.7.2, 14.7.2, or 15.2
#   tvOS 18.2, watchOS 11.2

# Confirm Gatekeeper status on macOS
spctl --status