CVE-2024-27847 is a vulnerability identified in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS operating systems that allows an application to bypass the privacy preferences set by the user. The issue stems from insufficient enforcement of privacy checks within the OS, categorized under CWE-277 (Improper Access Control). This flaw permits an app to access protected resources or data that should be restricted by user-configured privacy settings, potentially exposing sensitive information or enabling unauthorized actions. The vulnerability affects unspecified versions prior to the patched releases iOS 17.5, iPadOS 17.5, and macOS Sonoma 14.5. According to the CVSS 3.1 vector (7.4), the attack requires local access (AV:L), has high attack complexity (AC:H), does not require privileges (PR:N), nor user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). The absence of required privileges and user interaction means an app installed on a device could exploit this vulnerability autonomously, though the high complexity suggests exploitation is non-trivial. Apple has addressed this issue by improving internal checks to enforce privacy preferences more strictly. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, indicating limited or no active exploitation at this time. This vulnerability poses a significant risk to user privacy and device security, especially in environments where sensitive data is handled on Apple mobile devices.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a critical risk to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data accessed via iOS and iPadOS devices. Organizations relying on Apple devices for communication, data processing, or remote work could see unauthorized data access or leakage if malicious apps exploit this flaw. The ability to bypass privacy preferences undermines user trust and compliance with stringent European data protection regulations such as GDPR. Potential impacts include exposure of personal data, intellectual property theft, and disruption of device availability. Given the high severity and broad impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, affected organizations may face regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and operational disruptions. The lack of required user interaction or privileges means that even standard user-installed apps could exploit this vulnerability, increasing the attack surface. However, the high attack complexity and requirement for local access somewhat limit widespread exploitation, but targeted attacks against high-value targets remain a concern.

European organizations should prioritize updating all Apple devices to iOS 17.5, iPadOS 17.5, or macOS Sonoma 14.5 as soon as possible to apply the vendor’s fix. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict mobile device management (MDM) policies to control app installations and permissions, restricting apps to those vetted and necessary for business operations. Employing application whitelisting and monitoring for anomalous app behavior can help detect attempts to exploit privacy bypasses. Regular audits of privacy settings and app permissions should be conducted to ensure no unauthorized changes occur. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted apps and enforce policies that limit app sources to official Apple App Store only. For highly sensitive environments, consider additional endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting suspicious activity related to privacy violations. Finally, maintain up-to-date incident response plans that include procedures for mobile device compromise scenarios.