CVE-2023-42878 is a privacy vulnerability affecting Apple operating systems including macOS, watchOS, iOS, and iPadOS. The root cause lies in insufficient redaction of sensitive user data within system log entries, which can be accessed by an app running with limited privileges on the device. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-922 (Improper Restriction of Communication Channel to Intended Endpoints), indicating that sensitive information is exposed due to inadequate controls on data visibility in logs. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), with an attack vector of local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high confidentiality impact (C:H) but no impact on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). This means a local app with limited privileges can read sensitive data that should have been redacted from logs, potentially leading to unauthorized disclosure of private information. The vulnerability was addressed by Apple in the 14.1 update for macOS Sonoma and corresponding updates for other Apple OSes by improving the redaction mechanisms in log entries to prevent apps from accessing sensitive data. No public exploits or active exploitation in the wild have been reported to date. The affected versions are unspecified but presumably include all versions prior to the fixed releases. This vulnerability primarily threatens confidentiality by exposing sensitive user data to unauthorized local applications, which could be leveraged for further attacks or privacy violations.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of sensitive user data leakage on Apple devices used within corporate environments. Confidentiality breaches could expose personal or corporate information, potentially violating GDPR and other privacy regulations. The impact is particularly significant for organizations with employees using macOS or iOS devices for work, especially in sectors handling sensitive data such as finance, healthcare, and government. Although exploitation requires local access and low privileges, insider threats or malware with limited permissions could exploit this flaw to gather sensitive information. The lack of impact on integrity and availability reduces the risk of system disruption, but the confidentiality breach alone can lead to reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and loss of trust. Since no known exploits are currently active, organizations have a window to patch and mitigate before potential exploitation occurs.

European organizations should prioritize updating all Apple devices to macOS Sonoma 14.1, iOS 17.1, iPadOS 17.1, and watchOS 10.1 or later to apply the fix. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict app permission policies to limit the installation and execution of untrusted or unnecessary local applications that could exploit this vulnerability. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring local app behaviors and access to system logs to detect suspicious activity. Implement device management policies via MDM solutions to control software updates and app installations centrally. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted apps and the importance of timely OS updates. Additionally, audit and restrict access to logs and sensitive data on devices where possible. Regularly review privacy and security configurations on Apple devices to ensure compliance with organizational policies and regulatory requirements.