CVE-2024-23293 is a vulnerability identified in Apple tvOS and other Apple platforms (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS) that allows an attacker with physical access to a device to use Siri to access sensitive user data without requiring authentication or user interaction. The root cause is improper state management within the Siri interface, which fails to adequately restrict access to sensitive information when the device is locked or in a restricted state. This flaw enables an attacker to bypass normal security controls by issuing voice commands to Siri, thereby extracting confidential data. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple operating systems and was addressed in the 17.4 updates for tvOS, iOS, iPadOS, macOS Sonoma 14.4, and watchOS 10.4 through improved state management that prevents unauthorized Siri access. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.6 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector requires physical access (AV:P), no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality (C:H) but not integrity or availability. There are no known public exploits or reports of active exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the risk posed by voice assistant interfaces when physical device security is compromised, especially in shared or public environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily in environments where Apple devices such as Apple TV, iPhones, iPads, Macs, or Apple Watches are accessible to multiple users or in public/shared spaces (e.g., conference rooms, hotels, educational institutions). An attacker with physical access could extract sensitive information without needing device credentials, potentially leading to data leakage of confidential business or personal information. This could impact sectors like finance, media, government, and technology where Apple devices are prevalent. The confidentiality breach could undermine trust, lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR, and cause reputational damage. However, since exploitation requires physical access and no remote attack vector exists, the overall risk is mitigated by physical security controls. The medium severity indicates that while the vulnerability is not critical, it is significant enough to warrant prompt remediation to prevent insider threats or opportunistic attacks.

1. Immediately update all Apple devices to the latest patched versions: tvOS 17.4, iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4, and watchOS 10.4. 2. Enforce strict physical security policies to limit unauthorized physical access to devices, especially in shared or public environments. 3. Disable or restrict Siri access on lock screens or configure Siri settings to require authentication before responding to sensitive queries. 4. Educate employees and users about the risks of leaving devices unattended and the importance of locking devices when not in use. 5. Implement device management policies via MDM solutions to centrally control Siri settings and enforce security configurations. 6. Monitor device usage logs for unusual Siri activity that could indicate attempted exploitation. 7. For high-risk environments, consider disabling Siri entirely on devices where voice assistant functionality is not essential. These steps go beyond generic patching by emphasizing physical security, configuration hardening, and user awareness tailored to the nature of this vulnerability.