CVE-2024-23201 is a permissions-related vulnerability identified in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS platforms, as well as other Apple operating systems including macOS Monterey, macOS Ventura, macOS Sonoma, watchOS, and tvOS. The vulnerability arises from insufficient restrictions on app permissions, which could allow a malicious or flawed app to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition on the device. Specifically, an app can exploit this permissions issue to disrupt system availability, potentially causing the device or certain services to become unresponsive or crash. The vulnerability does not require any privileges (PR:N), nor does it require user interaction (UI:N), meaning an app installed on the device can trigger the DoS without additional user consent or elevated permissions. The attack vector is local (AV:L), indicating the attacker must have an app installed on the device. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.2, reflecting a medium severity level primarily due to the impact on availability (A:H) while confidentiality and integrity remain unaffected (C:N/I:N). The underlying weakness is classified under CWE-276, which relates to improper permissions or access control. Apple has addressed this issue by implementing additional permission restrictions in updates released across multiple OS versions, including iOS 17.3, iPadOS 17.3, macOS Ventura 13.6.5, and others. No public exploits or active exploitation in the wild have been reported to date. This vulnerability underscores the importance of robust permission management in mobile operating systems to prevent denial-of-service conditions caused by malicious or buggy applications.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-23201 is the potential disruption of availability on Apple mobile devices and related platforms. Organizations that rely heavily on iOS and iPadOS devices for critical business operations, communications, or customer-facing services may experience service interruptions if a malicious or compromised app exploits this vulnerability. Although the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, denial-of-service conditions can degrade productivity, cause operational delays, and impact user trust. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and telecommunications, where Apple devices are prevalent, could face operational risks. Additionally, organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies may be exposed if employees install untrusted apps that exploit this flaw. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the medium severity and ease of exploitation without user interaction warrant proactive patching and monitoring. The vulnerability also highlights the need for strict app vetting and permission management to prevent inadvertent or malicious DoS attacks within enterprise environments.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigation measures: 1) Prioritize deployment of Apple’s security updates that address CVE-2024-23201 across all affected devices, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. 2) Enforce strict mobile device management (MDM) policies to control app installation, limiting devices to trusted app stores and vetted applications only. 3) Monitor device behavior for signs of denial-of-service or abnormal app activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. 4) Educate users on the risks of installing untrusted or unknown applications, especially those requesting excessive permissions. 5) Utilize application whitelisting and sandboxing features where possible to restrict app capabilities. 6) For critical infrastructure and sensitive environments, consider additional network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of compromised devices. 7) Maintain an inventory of Apple devices and their OS versions to ensure timely patch management. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlled app ecosystems, proactive monitoring, and rapid patch deployment tailored to the Apple device environment.