CVE-2024-27879 is a vulnerability in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS operating systems that allows an attacker to cause unexpected termination of applications. The root cause is a lack of adequate bounds checking, a classic buffer-related issue categorized under CWE-119. This flaw can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring any privileges or user interaction, making it a particularly accessible attack vector. When exploited, the attacker can crash targeted applications, leading to denial-of-service conditions at the app level. While the vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, the impact on availability can disrupt user workflows and business processes relying on affected apps. Apple has addressed this vulnerability in iOS and iPadOS versions 17.7 and 18 by implementing improved bounds checks. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability’s characteristics suggest it could be weaponized in the future. The vulnerability affects all unspecified earlier versions of iOS and iPadOS, which remain vulnerable until patched. Given the widespread use of Apple mobile devices globally, including in Europe, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to mobile-dependent environments. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.5 reflects the high impact on availability combined with the ease of exploitation and lack of required privileges or user interaction.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-27879 is on the availability of applications running on iOS and iPadOS devices. Enterprises that rely heavily on mobile apps for critical business functions, communications, or customer interactions may experience service disruptions if attackers exploit this vulnerability to crash apps. This could lead to productivity losses, operational delays, and potential reputational damage. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and telecommunications, which often use Apple devices extensively, may be particularly affected. Additionally, organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies face increased risk as attackers could target employee devices to indirectly disrupt corporate operations. Although the vulnerability does not allow data theft or code execution, repeated app crashes could be leveraged as part of a broader attack strategy to degrade service or distract security teams. The lack of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability’s characteristics warrant proactive mitigation to prevent future exploitation.

European organizations should immediately prioritize updating all iOS and iPadOS devices to version 17.7 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. IT asset management should include an inventory of Apple devices to ensure comprehensive patch deployment. Network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems (IDS) and anomaly detection can help identify unusual app crash patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also educate users to report frequent or unexplained app crashes promptly. For critical mobile applications, consider implementing application-level monitoring and crash analytics to detect and respond to potential attacks quickly. Where possible, restrict network exposure of vulnerable devices by segmenting mobile device traffic and applying strict access controls. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans that include scenarios involving mobile device disruptions.