CVE-2024-23223 is a privacy vulnerability identified in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS platforms, as well as macOS Sonoma, watchOS, and tvOS, fixed in versions 17.3 and 14.3 respectively. The issue arises from improper handling of files within the operating system, allowing a maliciously crafted app to access sensitive user data without requiring any privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-732, which relates to permissions, privileges, and access controls, indicating a failure in enforcing proper access restrictions on files. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.2 (medium severity), with the vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, meaning the attack requires local access (e.g., the attacker must have the ability to run code on the device), has low attack complexity, requires no privileges or user interaction, and impacts confidentiality significantly but not integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, suggesting limited active exploitation so far. The vulnerability’s root cause is likely an OS-level flaw in how file permissions or sandboxing is enforced, enabling unauthorized data access by apps that should not have such permissions. This can lead to leakage of sensitive user information, potentially including personal data, credentials, or other confidential content stored on the device. The vulnerability affects all versions prior to the patched releases, though exact affected versions are unspecified. Given the widespread use of Apple devices in enterprise and personal contexts, this vulnerability represents a privacy risk that could be leveraged in targeted attacks or espionage if exploited.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-23223 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on Apple mobile devices. This could include corporate emails, documents, credentials, or personal information, leading to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), reputational damage, and potential financial losses. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, direct disruption of services is unlikely. However, the confidentiality breach could facilitate further attacks such as phishing, identity theft, or lateral movement within corporate networks. Organizations with mobile workforces relying on iPhones or iPads are particularly at risk, especially if devices are used to access sensitive corporate resources. The lack of required user interaction or privileges lowers the barrier for exploitation once a malicious app is installed, increasing the risk from insider threats or supply chain compromises. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the vulnerability’s medium severity and ease of exploitation warrant prompt attention to prevent future attacks.

1. Immediately update all Apple devices (iOS, iPadOS, macOS Sonoma, watchOS, tvOS) to version 17.3 or later where the vulnerability is patched. 2. Enforce strict mobile device management (MDM) policies to control app installations, restricting to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store and vetted enterprise apps. 3. Regularly audit installed apps and their permissions to detect any unauthorized or suspicious applications. 4. Educate users on the risks of installing untrusted apps and the importance of timely OS updates. 5. Implement network-level controls to monitor and restrict data exfiltration from mobile devices. 6. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of monitoring unusual file access patterns on Apple devices. 7. For highly sensitive environments, consider additional data encryption and containerization solutions to limit data exposure even if device-level vulnerabilities are exploited. 8. Maintain an incident response plan that includes mobile device compromise scenarios to rapidly contain and remediate any breaches.