CVE-2024-44258Known exploitationPublic exploit

Protected system-file modification via symlinked backup paths

Published Oct 28, 2024 · Updated Apr 2, 2026

Symlink following in Apple iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and visionOS allows attackers to modify protected system files during backup restoration. MCMigrator_copyAlmostAtomicallyItemAtPath:toPath:error: migrates files without rejecting a symbolic link in the destination path, allowing redirected writes into restricted directories. Exploitation requires restoration of an attacker-crafted backup and can overwrite protected configuration data; no network-only path is documented.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.75%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Symlink following in Apple iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and visionOS allows attackers to modify protected system files during backup restoration. MCMigrator_copyAlmostAtomicallyItemAtPath:toPath:error: migrates files without rejecting a symbolic link in the destination path, allowing redirected writes into restricted directories. Exploitation requires restoration of an attacker-crafted backup and can overwrite protected configuration data; no network-only path is documented.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-44258
Published
Oct 28, 2024
Updated
Apr 2, 2026
Vendor
Apple
Product
iOS
Classifications
CWE-59, T1565.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 28, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 2, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <17.7
  2. Affected versionversion=18.0 <18.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apple · iOSversion=0 <17.7; version=18.0 <18.1
Apple · iOS and iPadOSversion=0 <17.7.1; version=0 <18.1
Apple · visionOSversion=0 <2.1
Apple · tvOSversion=0 <18.1
Apple · iPadOSversion=0 <17.7; version=18.0 <18.1

Published CVSS scores

7.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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