CVE-2024-23249 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS related to improper memory handling during file processing. The flaw can be triggered by processing a specially crafted file, which may cause the system to crash, resulting in a denial-of-service (DoS) condition, or potentially allow an attacker to disclose contents of memory. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-404 (Improper Resource Shutdown or Release), indicating that the system fails to correctly manage memory resources when handling certain files. The issue was addressed by Apple in macOS Sonoma 14.4 through improved memory management techniques. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.2, reflecting a medium severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H) indicates that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), no confidentiality or integrity impact (C:N/I:N), but high impact on availability (A:H). There are no known exploits in the wild as of the publication date. The vulnerability affects unspecified macOS versions prior to the patch release. Exploitation requires an attacker to have local access to the system to supply a malicious file for processing, which could be through local user accounts or physical access. The flaw could be leveraged to disrupt system availability or leak sensitive memory information, potentially exposing sensitive data if memory contents are disclosed.

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily threatens system availability and potentially confidentiality on Apple macOS devices. Organizations relying on macOS for critical operations, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government, could face operational disruptions if exploited, leading to denial-of-service conditions. The potential memory disclosure could expose sensitive information residing in memory, which might include credentials or proprietary data, increasing the risk of further compromise. Since exploitation requires local access, the threat is more pronounced in environments where endpoint security is lax or where attackers can gain physical or local user access. The impact is heightened in organizations with a significant macOS footprint or those using macOS in sensitive roles. Given the medium severity and absence of known exploits, the immediate risk is moderate but warrants proactive patching and controls to prevent local exploitation.

1. Apply the macOS Sonoma 14.4 update immediately on all affected systems to remediate the vulnerability. 2. Restrict local access to macOS devices, enforcing strict physical security and limiting user accounts to trusted personnel. 3. Implement endpoint protection solutions that monitor and restrict the processing of untrusted or suspicious files locally. 4. Educate users about the risks of opening or processing unknown files, even locally, to reduce inadvertent triggering of the vulnerability. 5. Employ application whitelisting or sandboxing techniques to isolate file processing activities and limit potential damage. 6. Regularly audit and monitor macOS systems for unusual crashes or memory leaks that could indicate exploitation attempts. 7. For environments with mixed OS usage, consider network segmentation to isolate macOS devices and limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 8. Maintain up-to-date backups to ensure rapid recovery from potential denial-of-service impacts.