CVE-2024-44244 Overview
CVE-2024-44244 is a memory corruption vulnerability affecting Apple's WebKit-based browser engine across the company's operating system and application portfolio. Processing maliciously crafted web content can trigger an out-of-bounds write condition [CWE-787], leading to an unexpected process crash. Apple addressed the flaw through improved input validation in Safari 18.1, iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1, tvOS 18.1, visionOS 2.1, and watchOS 11.1. The issue requires user interaction, such as visiting a malicious website, and is exploitable over the network without authentication.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation causes an unexpected process crash in Safari and other WebKit-based clients when a user renders attacker-controlled web content, resulting in a denial-of-service condition on the affected process.
Affected Products
- Apple Safari (versions prior to 18.1)
- Apple iOS and iPadOS (versions prior to 18.1)
- Apple macOS Sequoia (versions prior to 15.1), tvOS (prior to 18.1), visionOS (prior to 2.1), and watchOS (prior to 11.1)
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-10-28 - CVE-2024-44244 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in the NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-44244
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2024-44244 is a memory corruption issue rooted in insufficient validation of untrusted input when WebKit processes crafted web content. The weakness maps to CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), a class of defect in which code writes data past the boundaries of an allocated buffer.
The issue impacts confidentiality and integrity minimally in the observed exploitation path, but degrades availability by terminating the rendering process. Because the flaw resides in the shared WebKit component, it affects every Apple platform that ships the engine, from mobile devices to set-top boxes and headsets. The EPSS score for this CVE is approximately 0.94%, indicating a low-to-moderate probability of exploitation in the near term.
Root Cause
According to Apple's advisory language, the underlying defect was addressed with improved input validation. This description is consistent with a parser or DOM handler that fails to bound-check attacker-controlled fields before writing them to memory, permitting an out-of-bounds write during content processing.
Attack Vector
An attacker hosts or injects malicious HTML, JavaScript, CSS, or media content into a page that a victim later visits with an unpatched WebKit-based browser. When the renderer parses the crafted content, the corrupted memory write causes the process to terminate. The attack requires user interaction (navigating to the content) but no privileges on the target device.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available for this issue. See the Apple Support advisory and the Full Disclosure post from October 9, 2024 for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-44244
Indicators of Compromise
- Repeated unexpected termination of Safari, WebContent, or com.apple.WebKit.WebContent processes on unpatched endpoints.
- Crash reports referencing WebKit rendering components generated shortly after navigation to untrusted URLs.
- Outbound connections from unpatched Apple devices to suspicious domains immediately preceding renderer crashes.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory Apple endpoints and compare installed OS and Safari versions against the fixed builds (Safari 18.1, iOS/iPadOS 18.1, macOS 15.1, tvOS 18.1, visionOS 2.1, watchOS 11.1).
- Ingest macOS DiagnosticReports and iOS crash logs into a central analytics platform and alert on clusters of WebKit crashes across multiple hosts.
- Correlate browser process crashes with concurrent web proxy logs to identify the URL that triggered the fault.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor endpoint telemetry for WebContent process exits with abnormal signal codes on macOS and iOS fleets.
- Track user navigation to newly registered or low-reputation domains that coincide with browser instability events.
- Alert on patch-compliance drift for Apple devices lagging behind the October 2024 security updates.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-44244
Immediate Actions Required
- Deploy Safari 18.1, iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1, tvOS 18.1, visionOS 2.1, and watchOS 11.1 across managed Apple devices.
- Prioritize patching for internet-facing user endpoints and BYOD devices that regularly browse untrusted sites.
- Validate MDM policies enforce automatic updates for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS security releases.
Patch Information
Apple resolved CVE-2024-44244 with improved input validation. Refer to the vendor advisories for build details and update instructions: Apple Support Document #121563, #121564, #121565, #121566, #121569, and #121571. Downstream distributions such as Debian shipped corresponding WebKitGTK updates; see the Debian LTS Security Announcement.
Workarounds
- Restrict browsing to trusted domains via web filtering or DNS controls until patches are applied to all managed devices.
- Use enterprise browsers or MDM policies to disable JavaScript on high-risk devices that cannot be updated immediately.
- Educate users to avoid clicking untrusted links and to report unexpected Safari crashes to the security team.
# Configuration example: verify installed macOS and Safari versions
sw_vers -productVersion
defaults read /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Info.plist CFBundleShortVersionString
# Force policy-driven updates via MDM (example command using softwareupdate)
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
