CVE-2024-23297 is a vulnerability identified in Apple tvOS and related Apple operating systems (iOS, iPadOS, watchOS) that allows a malicious application to access private information improperly. The root cause relates to insufficient access control checks within the operating system, which could be exploited by an app running with limited privileges (PR:L) to read sensitive data without requiring user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms, including tvOS, iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS, and was addressed in the 17.4 and 10.4 updates respectively. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting a high impact on confidentiality (C:H) but no impact on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have the ability to run code on the device, but the attack complexity is low (AC:L), and privileges required are low (PR:L). No user interaction is needed, which increases the risk of stealthy exploitation. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability could be leveraged by malicious apps distributed through sideloading or enterprise app deployments. The fix involved improved access control checks to prevent unauthorized data access. This vulnerability highlights the importance of strict privilege separation and access validation in modern OS environments, especially on consumer devices that increasingly handle sensitive personal and enterprise data.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-23297 lies in the potential unauthorized disclosure of private or sensitive information stored or accessible on Apple tvOS and related devices. This could include personal user data, corporate credentials, or other confidential information if the device is used in a business context. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, so it is unlikely to cause service disruption or data manipulation. However, the confidentiality breach could lead to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and reputational damage. Organizations using Apple TVs for digital signage, conferencing, or media consumption in corporate environments may be particularly exposed. The requirement for local code execution limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or compromised endpoints could still leverage this flaw. Since no user interaction is required, malicious apps could silently exfiltrate data once installed. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often develop exploits after public disclosure. Therefore, European entities should prioritize patching and app vetting to mitigate potential data leakage risks.

To mitigate CVE-2024-23297, European organizations should: 1) Ensure all Apple devices, including Apple TVs, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches, are updated to tvOS 17.4, iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, and watchOS 10.4 or later to apply the security fix. 2) Restrict installation of applications to trusted sources only, such as the official Apple App Store, to reduce the risk of malicious app deployment. 3) Implement Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to enforce update policies and control app installations on corporate devices. 4) Monitor device inventories for unauthorized or outdated devices that may be vulnerable. 5) Educate users and administrators about the risks of sideloading or installing unverified applications. 6) Employ network segmentation and endpoint detection to identify suspicious local activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. 7) Regularly audit privacy settings and app permissions on Apple devices to minimize unnecessary data exposure. These steps go beyond generic patching by focusing on operational controls and user behavior to reduce the attack surface.