CVE-2024-23259 is a denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerability identified in Apple iOS and iPadOS platforms, related to the processing of web content. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-400, which pertains to uncontrolled resource consumption leading to DoS conditions. Specifically, when a device processes certain crafted web content, it may trigger excessive resource usage or a crash, rendering the device temporarily unavailable. This vulnerability requires no privileges but does require user interaction, such as visiting a malicious or compromised website. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.5 (medium), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction needed, and impact limited to availability. Apple has released patches in iOS 16.7.6, iPadOS 16.7.6, iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, and macOS Sonoma 14.4 to address this issue by implementing improved input validation and resource management checks during web content processing. No public exploits or active exploitation campaigns have been reported to date. The vulnerability primarily affects Apple mobile devices and potentially macOS systems running the affected versions. The root cause is related to insufficient validation or handling of web content that leads to resource exhaustion or crash conditions.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-23259 is the potential denial-of-service on Apple iOS and iPadOS devices. This can disrupt business operations, especially in environments where Apple devices are integral for communication, remote work, or critical applications. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and telecommunications that rely on mobile Apple devices could experience temporary loss of availability, impacting productivity and service continuity. Although the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, repeated or targeted DoS attacks could degrade user trust and operational stability. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be used to lure users to malicious web content, increasing the risk in environments with less stringent web filtering or user awareness. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits post-disclosure. Organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies or extensive Apple device fleets should prioritize mitigation to avoid service interruptions.

1. Apply the latest Apple security updates immediately: upgrade to iOS 16.7.6, iPadOS 16.7.6, iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, or macOS Sonoma 14.4 as applicable. 2. Implement strict web content filtering and monitoring to block access to suspicious or untrusted websites that could host malicious content triggering the vulnerability. 3. Educate users about the risks of interacting with unknown or suspicious links, emphasizing caution with unsolicited messages or emails containing web links. 4. Employ mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce update policies and restrict installation of untrusted applications or profiles. 5. Monitor device logs and network traffic for unusual crashes or spikes in resource usage that may indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Consider network-level protections such as DNS filtering and secure web gateways to reduce exposure to malicious web content. 7. For critical environments, restrict or isolate Apple devices from sensitive networks until patched. 8. Maintain incident response readiness to quickly address any DoS incidents affecting Apple devices.