CVE-2024-44259 Overview
CVE-2024-44259 is a state management vulnerability affecting Apple Safari and multiple Apple operating systems. The flaw allows an attacker to misuse a trust relationship to download malicious content to a target system. Apple addressed the issue through improved state management in Safari 18.1, iOS 17.7.1, iPadOS 17.7.1, iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1, and visionOS 2.1. The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without privileges or user interaction, impacting confidentiality of affected systems.
Critical Impact
An attacker may abuse trust relationships in Apple's web and OS components to deliver malicious content to victims across Safari, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS.
Affected Products
- Apple Safari (versions prior to 18.1)
- Apple iOS and iPadOS (versions prior to 17.7.1 and 18.1)
- Apple macOS Sequoia (versions prior to 15.1) and Apple visionOS (versions prior to 2.1)
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-10-28 - CVE-2024-44259 published to NVD
- 2026-04-02 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-44259
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from improper state management within Apple Safari and related operating system components. State management defects occur when an application fails to correctly track or validate session, trust, or origin state across operations. In this case, the inconsistency permits an attacker to leverage an established trust relationship between components or origins to deliver malicious content.
Apple categorized the impact as the ability to misuse a trust relationship to download malicious content. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms that share the WebKit and Safari codebase, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS. The Common Weakness Enumeration entry is currently listed as NVD-CWE-noinfo, indicating Apple did not publicly disclose the specific weakness class.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper state management in code paths that handle download or content-loading operations. When trust state is not correctly enforced, content originating from an untrusted source may be processed as if it carried the privileges of a trusted source. Apple's fix introduces stricter state tracking to prevent this confusion.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker hosts crafted web content that exploits the trust-state inconsistency when a victim visits an attacker-controlled or compromised site. Successful exploitation enables delivery of malicious payloads without typical browser security warnings.
No verified exploit code is currently available. See the Apple Support Document 121563 and related advisories for technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-44259
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected file downloads initiated by Safari or WebKit-based applications without explicit user action
- Outbound HTTP/HTTPS requests from Safari to low-reputation domains followed by writes to user download directories
- Execution of recently downloaded content from ~/Downloads or temporary browser cache locations on macOS and iOS sync targets
Detection Strategies
- Inventory Apple endpoints and flag systems running Safari versions prior to 18.1 or operating systems below the patched versions
- Correlate browser process activity with subsequent file-creation and process-execution events to identify drive-by download chains
- Inspect web proxy and DNS telemetry for connections to newly registered or uncategorized domains visited via Safari
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor macOS endpoints for Safari child processes spawning unsigned binaries shortly after navigation events
- Track Mobile Device Management (MDM) compliance reports to confirm iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS devices are running patched builds
- Alert on Safari telemetry indicating cross-origin downloads that bypass standard user-confirmation prompts
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-44259
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Safari to version 18.1 on all macOS systems where it is installed
- Upgrade iOS and iPadOS devices to 17.7.1 or 18.1, macOS to Sequoia 15.1, and visionOS to 2.1
- Enforce patched-version compliance through MDM policies and block non-compliant devices from accessing sensitive resources
- Educate users to avoid clicking links from untrusted sources until patching is complete
Patch Information
Apple released fixes through improved state management in Safari 18.1, iOS 17.7.1 and iPadOS 17.7.1, iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1, and visionOS 2.1. Refer to the official advisories: Apple Support Document 121563, 121564, 121566, 121567, and 121571.
Workarounds
- Restrict Safari usage on unpatched systems and route web traffic through an alternative hardened browser temporarily
- Apply web proxy and DNS filtering to block access to untrusted domains until all endpoints are updated
- Disable automatic file downloads in Safari preferences where business workflows allow
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
