CVE-2023-35984 is a vulnerability discovered in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS platforms, as well as related operating systems like tvOS, watchOS, and macOS Sonoma. The vulnerability involves a limited out-of-bounds write condition that can be triggered by an attacker who is physically near the target device. This type of memory corruption flaw can potentially lead to unexpected behavior, including crashes or, in some cases, exploitation for privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution. However, the write is described as limited, which suggests constraints on the extent of memory corruption possible. Apple addressed this issue by implementing improved input validation and boundary checks in the affected operating systems, releasing fixes in versions iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS Sonoma 14. The vulnerability does not have a CVSS score assigned yet, and there are no known exploits in the wild, indicating it may be difficult to exploit or not widely targeted currently. The requirement for physical proximity means that remote exploitation is not feasible, reducing the attack surface primarily to scenarios where an attacker can be near the device, such as in public spaces, offices, or during device handoffs. The vulnerability affects all unspecified versions prior to the patched releases, implying a broad impact across Apple device users who have not updated. Given Apple’s significant market share in Europe, especially in consumer and enterprise sectors, this vulnerability is relevant for organizations relying on Apple hardware and software. The risk is heightened in environments where devices are shared, left unattended, or physically accessible to untrusted individuals.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-35984 centers on the potential for attackers with physical access to cause memory corruption on Apple devices, which could lead to device instability, denial of service, or potentially privilege escalation if chained with other vulnerabilities. This could compromise the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data stored or accessed on these devices. Sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure that use Apple devices extensively could face operational disruptions or data breaches if attackers exploit this vulnerability. The physical proximity requirement limits the threat to environments where device security is lax or where devices are frequently exposed to untrusted individuals, such as in public-facing roles or shared workspaces. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the possibility of future exploitation. Failure to patch could allow attackers to leverage this vulnerability as part of a multi-stage attack, especially in targeted espionage or insider threat scenarios. The impact on availability is moderate, as out-of-bounds writes can cause crashes or erratic behavior. Confidentiality and integrity impacts depend on the attacker’s ability to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code, which is uncertain but plausible given the nature of memory corruption bugs.

1. Immediate deployment of the latest Apple OS updates (iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, watchOS 10, macOS Sonoma 14) across all organizational Apple devices to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Enforce strict physical security policies to limit unauthorized physical access to devices, including secure storage, controlled access areas, and monitoring in public or shared environments. 3. Implement device management solutions (MDM) to enforce update compliance and remotely monitor device health and security posture. 4. Educate employees about the risks of leaving devices unattended and the importance of physical security hygiene. 5. Use strong authentication methods (biometrics, strong passcodes) to reduce the risk of unauthorized use even if physical access is gained. 6. Monitor for unusual device behavior or crashes that could indicate exploitation attempts. 7. Consider network segmentation and data encryption to limit the impact if a device is compromised. 8. Maintain an incident response plan that includes procedures for handling suspected physical tampering or exploitation of device vulnerabilities.