CVE-2024-23239 is a race condition vulnerability identified in Apple tvOS and other Apple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, macOS Sonoma, and watchOS. The vulnerability stems from improper state handling within the system, which can be exploited by a malicious application to leak sensitive user information. Race conditions occur when multiple threads or processes access shared resources concurrently without proper synchronization, leading to unpredictable behavior. In this case, the flaw allows an app to access or infer sensitive data that should otherwise be protected. Apple addressed this issue by improving state management in tvOS 17.4 and corresponding updates across other platforms. The CVSS v3.1 score is 5.9 (medium severity), reflecting a network attack vector with high attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. The impact is limited to confidentiality, with no effect on integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, indicating that the vulnerability is not yet actively exploited. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-362 (Race Condition). Given the cross-platform nature of the fix, it suggests the underlying flaw affects shared components or frameworks used across Apple OSes. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for environments where Apple TV devices or other Apple platforms are used, as a malicious app could potentially extract sensitive information without user consent or awareness.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-23239 is the potential leakage of sensitive user information through compromised or malicious applications on Apple devices, including Apple TV. This could lead to unauthorized disclosure of personal or corporate data, undermining privacy and potentially violating data protection regulations such as GDPR. Organizations relying on Apple TV for digital signage, media distribution, or conference room management could face risks if attackers exploit this flaw to access confidential information. Although the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach could damage organizational reputation and lead to compliance penalties. The medium severity and absence of known exploits reduce immediate risk, but the widespread use of Apple devices in Europe means that unpatched systems remain vulnerable. Attackers with network access could exploit this vulnerability remotely, increasing the attack surface especially in environments with less controlled app installation policies.

European organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple devices to tvOS 17.4, iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4, and watchOS 10.4 as soon as updates are available. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict app installation policies, limiting app sources to the official Apple App Store and employing Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to control app permissions and monitor device behavior. Network segmentation can reduce exposure by isolating Apple TV devices from sensitive internal networks. Regular audits of installed applications and monitoring for unusual data access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, educating users about the risks of installing untrusted apps and maintaining up-to-date endpoint protection solutions will further reduce risk. For environments using Apple TV in enterprise settings, consider disabling unnecessary network services and restricting device connectivity to trusted networks only.