CVE-2024-23203 is a vulnerability identified in Apple iOS and iPadOS platforms that allows a shortcut to access sensitive data without requiring user consent or interaction. Shortcuts are automated workflows that users can create or download to perform tasks on their devices. Normally, when a shortcut attempts to access sensitive data, the system prompts the user for permission to prevent unauthorized access. However, this vulnerability bypasses those permission prompts under certain actions, enabling a shortcut to silently retrieve sensitive information. The issue stems from insufficient permission checks in the shortcut execution environment. Apple addressed this vulnerability by enhancing permission validation in macOS Sonoma 14.3, iOS 17.3, and iPadOS 17.3. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting a high severity due to the vulnerability's network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and a high impact on confidentiality (C:H) with no impact on integrity or availability. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, but the potential for silent data exfiltration makes this a significant threat. The affected versions are unspecified but include all versions prior to the patched releases. This vulnerability primarily threatens confidentiality by allowing unauthorized data access, which could include personal data, credentials, or other sensitive information stored or accessible via shortcuts. The lack of required user interaction and privileges lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing risk. Organizations relying on Apple mobile devices should be aware of this vulnerability and apply updates promptly to mitigate risk.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-23203 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data through compromised or malicious shortcuts on iOS and iPadOS devices. This can lead to breaches of personal data protected under GDPR, resulting in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, which often use Apple devices for secure communications and data access, are particularly at risk. The vulnerability could be exploited to silently extract confidential information without alerting the user, undermining trust in mobile device security. Additionally, the ease of exploitation without user interaction or privileges increases the likelihood of targeted or opportunistic attacks. The impact on data confidentiality could also facilitate further attacks, such as identity theft, corporate espionage, or unauthorized access to internal systems if credentials or tokens are exposed. Given the widespread use of Apple devices in Europe, the vulnerability poses a broad risk to enterprise and personal data security.

1. Immediately update all iOS and iPadOS devices to version 17.3 or later, and macOS devices to Sonoma 14.3 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. 2. Audit and restrict the use of shortcuts within the organization, especially those downloaded from untrusted sources or created by unknown developers. 3. Implement mobile device management (MDM) policies to control shortcut permissions and monitor shortcut usage for anomalous behavior. 4. Educate users about the risks of installing or running shortcuts that request access to sensitive data without clear justification. 5. Regularly review and enforce strict app and shortcut permission settings to minimize unnecessary data access. 6. Monitor network traffic for unusual data exfiltration patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. 7. Coordinate with Apple support channels for any additional guidance or detection tools related to this vulnerability. 8. Incorporate this vulnerability into incident response plans to quickly address any suspected exploitation.