macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 addressed three problems Apple associated with the earlier 14.4 release: USB hubs connected to external displays might not be recognized, some copy-protected Audio Unit plug-ins might fail to open or pass validation, and apps that include Java might quit unexpectedly. Apple released the update on March 25, 2024. It is no longer the latest Sonoma release, so check Software Update for the newest version available to your Mac.
What does macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 fix?
Apple’s Sonoma update history lists these three bug-fix categories for 14.4.1:
- USB hub recognition: USB hubs connected to external displays might not be recognized.
- Audio Unit plug-ins: Copy-protected Audio Unit plug-ins designed for professional music apps might not open or pass validation.
- Java app stability: Apps that include Java might quit unexpectedly.
The wording matters: Apple describes categories of problems that the update addressed, not a guarantee that it will resolve every individual device, plug-in, or app issue. MacRumors reported at the time that users had encountered symptoms such as peripherals failing through monitor-integrated hubs, Java processes terminating, and protected plug-ins failing in some workflows; that reporting provides context, while Apple’s notes define the fixes.
What security issue did the update address?
Apple’s security advisory for macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 lists CVE-2024-1580 under both CoreMedia and WebRTC. Apple says processing an image could lead to arbitrary code execution and describes an out-of-bounds write addressed with improved input validation. The repeated identifier appears in both component entries; it should not be read as evidence of two distinct CVEs.
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Apple dates the update to March 25, 2024, and credits Nick Galloway of Google Project Zero in the advisory. Apple’s general policy says it does not disclose, discuss, or confirm security issues until an investigation has occurred and patches or releases are available; that policy does not establish a specific discovery timeline for this issue.
Is 14.4.1 still the latest Sonoma update?
No. Apple’s update history now lists Sonoma releases through 14.8.4. Apple says Sonoma updates improve stability, performance, or compatibility and recommends them for Sonoma users. The available update can depend on the Mac, so check locally rather than assuming 14.4.1 is the current endpoint.
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- Open System Settings.
- Select General, then Software Update.
- Install the latest Sonoma version offered for your Mac, if you want to remain on Sonoma and an update is available.
Were printer and iCloud Drive problems part of the 14.4.1 fixes?
Not in the three fixes listed by Apple. MacRumors’ March 26, 2024 coverage also mentioned reports involving printer drivers and saved iCloud Drive file versions when Optimize Mac Storage was enabled, while noting that these additional issues were not in Apple’s update notes. Their status or applicability to later Sonoma releases is not established by those reports, so they should not be treated as confirmed current defects or as problems Apple said 14.4.1 fixed.
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- UP TO 16 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Neo delivers all day battery life, so you can power through from early morning classes to late night study sessions without worrying about plugging in.
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