CVE-2024-23250 is an access control vulnerability identified in Apple tvOS and other Apple operating systems including iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4, and watchOS 10.4. The flaw allows an application to access Bluetooth-connected microphones without obtaining explicit user permission, violating expected privacy controls. This occurs due to insufficient enforcement of access restrictions on Bluetooth audio peripherals, categorized under CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization). The vulnerability requires local access to the device and some form of user interaction (e.g., app installation or activation), but does not require prior privileges or authentication. The CVSS v3.1 score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting the limited attack vector (local), low complexity, no privileges required, but requiring user interaction and resulting in a high impact on integrity (unauthorized access to microphone data). Confidentiality impact is not directly rated as compromised, but unauthorized microphone access can lead to privacy violations and potential data leakage. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. Apple has fixed the issue in tvOS 17.4 and corresponding OS updates, improving access restriction mechanisms to prevent unauthorized microphone access via Bluetooth. This vulnerability highlights the risks of insufficient permission enforcement in multimedia peripherals, especially in environments where sensitive conversations or data may be captured.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant privacy risk, particularly in sectors handling sensitive or confidential information such as government, finance, healthcare, and legal services. Unauthorized access to Bluetooth-connected microphones could lead to covert audio surveillance, resulting in data leakage, intellectual property theft, or exposure of personal and corporate conversations. Since the vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms widely used in Europe, including Apple TV devices in meeting rooms and personal devices, the scope of potential impact is broad. Although the attack requires user interaction and local access, social engineering or malicious apps could exploit this vector. The breach of confidentiality could undermine compliance with GDPR and other privacy regulations, leading to legal and reputational consequences. However, the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, limiting the scope to privacy and data confidentiality concerns.

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 or later to apply the vendor's fix. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict app vetting policies, especially for Apple TV and other Apple devices used in corporate environments, to prevent installation of untrusted applications. Bluetooth device management should be tightened, disabling or restricting Bluetooth microphone connections where not necessary. User awareness training should emphasize the risks of installing unverified apps and the importance of scrutinizing permission requests. Network segmentation and monitoring of Bluetooth traffic can help detect anomalous device behavior. Additionally, organizations should review and enforce privacy policies to ensure compliance with GDPR regarding audio data capture and processing. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring microphone access events on Apple devices, if available. Finally, consider disabling Bluetooth on devices in sensitive areas when not required to reduce attack surface.