CVE-2024-23207 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS and related operating systems including watchOS, iOS, and iPadOS. The vulnerability arises from insufficient redaction of sensitive user information, which may allow an application to access sensitive user data that should otherwise be protected. This issue is categorized under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). The vulnerability does not require privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), and the attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning an attacker must have local access to the device. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (C:H) but does not affect integrity or availability. Apple has addressed this issue by improving the redaction mechanisms in the affected operating systems, with patches released in watchOS 10.3, iOS 17.3, iPadOS 17.3, macOS Sonoma 14.3, macOS Ventura 13.6.4, and macOS Monterey 12.7.3. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability could be exploited by a malicious app that tricks a user into interaction, thereby gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data that should have been redacted or protected. Given the local attack vector and user interaction requirement, exploitation is limited to scenarios where an attacker can convince or trick a user to run or interact with a malicious app locally on their device. This vulnerability highlights the importance of strict data redaction and access controls within operating systems to prevent leakage of sensitive information even to local applications.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-23207 depends largely on the use of Apple macOS and related devices within their environment. Organizations with employees using Apple devices for sensitive or regulated data processing could face confidentiality risks if malicious apps are introduced locally. The exposure of sensitive user data could lead to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and potential reputational damage. Since the vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, the risk is mitigated somewhat by organizational controls such as endpoint security, application whitelisting, and user awareness training. However, sectors with high-value data or stringent privacy requirements—such as finance, healthcare, and government—may be more vulnerable if devices are not properly managed or if users are targeted by social engineering. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk, but the medium CVSS score indicates a meaningful confidentiality impact that should be addressed promptly. Failure to patch could allow insider threats or attackers who gain physical or remote access to devices to extract sensitive information, potentially undermining data protection efforts.

European organizations should prioritize deploying the patches released by Apple for macOS Sonoma 14.3, Ventura 13.6.4, Monterey 12.7.3, and the corresponding iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS versions. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application control policies to prevent installation or execution of unauthorized or untrusted apps on Apple devices. User training should emphasize the risks of interacting with unknown or suspicious applications, especially those requesting access to sensitive data. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions should be configured to monitor for unusual local application behavior indicative of data access attempts. Additionally, organizations should audit device configurations to ensure that sensitive data is stored and accessed according to the principle of least privilege. Employing mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce security policies and restrict app installation sources can further reduce risk. Regular security assessments and penetration testing on Apple device environments can help identify any residual exposure. Finally, organizations should maintain an inventory of Apple devices and ensure timely updates to minimize the window of vulnerability.