# CVE-2024-44258: Path traversal in iOS and iPadOS

> Restoring a malicious backup file allows modification of protected system files on Apple devices.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 28 Oct 2024
- **Updated:** 2 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wpcr-qwq5-j6w2

## What is CVE-2024-44258?

CVE-2024-44258 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Apple Ipados, published on 28 Oct 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

This issue was addressed with improved handling of symlinks. This issue is fixed in iOS 17.7.1 and iPadOS 17.7.1, iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, tvOS 18.1, visionOS 2.1. Restoring a maliciously crafted backup file may lead to modification of protected system files.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-44258?

It affects 4 products.


Products: Apple Ipados, Apple Iphone Os, Apple Tvos, Apple Visionos.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-44258?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-44258 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-44258 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-44258 exists.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2024-44258 (github_poc): https://github.com/ifpdz/CVE-2024-44258
- https://github.com/missaels235/POC-CVE-2024-44258-Py (github_poc): https://github.com/missaels235/POC-CVE-2024-44258-Py

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Ipados

- [CVE-2025-43300](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-43300/): Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Out-of-Bounds Write (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-24201](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-24201/): Apple Multiple Products WebKit Out-of-Bounds Write (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-24085](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-24085/): Apple Multiple Products Use-After-Free (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-31200](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-31200/): Apple Multiple Products Memory Corruption (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-31201](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-31201/): Apple Multiple Products Arbitrary Read and Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-44258 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-44258 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Apple Ipados, published on 28 Oct 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-44258 exists.

Affected product: Apple Ipados. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-44258/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-44258/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-44258
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-44258
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-44258

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-44258/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.