CVE-2024-23284 is a vulnerability identified in Apple visionOS and multiple other Apple operating systems, including tvOS 17.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4, iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, watchOS 10.4, and earlier iOS/iPadOS 16.7.6 versions. The root cause is a logic issue related to improper state management when processing web content, which can prevent the enforcement of the Content Security Policy (CSP). CSP is a critical security mechanism designed to restrict the sources from which web content can be loaded, thereby mitigating risks such as cross-site scripting (XSS) and data injection attacks. By bypassing CSP enforcement, an attacker can inject malicious scripts or content into web pages viewed on affected devices. The vulnerability does not require any privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as visiting a maliciously crafted website or web content. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), meaning exploitation can occur remotely over the internet. The vulnerability affects the integrity of web content (I:H) but does not impact confidentiality or availability. Apple has addressed this issue by improving state management in the affected components, and patches have been released in the specified OS versions and Safari 17.4. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-693, which relates to protection mechanism failures due to logic errors. This flaw could be leveraged in targeted attacks to bypass CSP protections, potentially leading to script injection and subsequent compromise of user data or session integrity on affected Apple devices.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to the integrity of web content rendered on Apple devices, including emerging platforms like visionOS. Organizations relying on Apple hardware and software for web browsing, enterprise applications, or customer-facing services could see an increased risk of targeted attacks that bypass CSP protections, potentially enabling script injection or manipulation of web content. This could lead to unauthorized actions, session hijacking, or delivery of malicious payloads through trusted web interfaces. The impact is particularly relevant for sectors with high reliance on secure web applications such as finance, healthcare, and government services. Additionally, visionOS represents a new platform where security controls are still maturing, increasing the importance of timely patching. Although no known exploits exist yet, the ease of remote exploitation combined with user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could trigger attacks. The vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or availability directly but undermines a key security control, increasing the attack surface for web-based threats. Failure to address this vulnerability could result in reputational damage, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR if personal data is compromised), and potential financial losses from successful attacks.

European organizations should implement a multi-layered mitigation strategy beyond simply applying patches. First and foremost, ensure all Apple devices, including those running visionOS, are updated to the latest OS versions specified by Apple (visionOS 1.1, iOS 17.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4, etc.) and that Safari is updated to version 17.4 or later. Enforce strict Content Security Policy headers on all web applications, using nonce or hash-based directives to reduce reliance on stateful enforcement mechanisms. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) that can detect and block anomalous script injection attempts. Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted web content and implement browser security configurations that limit exposure to malicious sites. Monitor network traffic for unusual patterns indicative of CSP bypass attempts. For organizations deploying visionOS devices, conduct security assessments to understand the exposure of web content rendering components and apply additional endpoint protection controls. Finally, maintain an incident response plan that includes detection and remediation steps for CSP bypass and related web-based attacks.