CVE-2024-27880 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability identified in Apple macOS and other Apple operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. The root cause is insufficient input validation when processing specially crafted files, which can cause the affected application to read memory outside the intended buffer bounds. This memory access violation leads to unexpected application termination, effectively causing a denial-of-service condition. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read). It does not impact confidentiality or integrity, as it does not allow data leakage or modification, but it affects availability by crashing applications. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium), with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H, indicating local attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction needed, unchanged scope, no confidentiality or integrity impact, and high availability impact. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple OS versions, including macOS Sequoia 15, macOS Sonoma 14.7, iOS 17.7 and later, iPadOS 17.7 and later, watchOS 11, tvOS 18, and visionOS 2. Apple has addressed the issue through improved input validation in these versions. No public exploit code or active exploitation in the wild has been reported to date. The vulnerability could be triggered by convincing a user to open a maliciously crafted file, leading to application crashes and potential disruption of workflows or services relying on the affected apps.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-27880 is the potential for denial-of-service conditions caused by application crashes when processing malicious files. This can disrupt business operations, especially in environments where Apple devices are integral to workflows, such as creative industries, software development, and mobile device management. Although the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, repeated or targeted exploitation could degrade user productivity and cause service interruptions. Organizations relying on macOS and other Apple OS platforms for critical applications may experience instability or forced downtime. Additionally, the need for user interaction to trigger the vulnerability means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be leveraged to exploit this flaw. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits post-disclosure. European entities with large Apple device deployments must consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments and patch management strategies.

To mitigate CVE-2024-27880, European organizations should prioritize deploying the latest Apple OS updates that include the fix, specifically macOS Sequoia 15, macOS Sonoma 14.7, iOS 17.7 and later, iPadOS 17.7 and later, watchOS 11, tvOS 18, and visionOS 2. Organizations should enforce strict patch management policies to ensure timely installation of these updates across all Apple devices. Additionally, user education is critical to reduce the risk of opening malicious files; training should emphasize cautious handling of files from untrusted or unknown sources. Implementing application whitelisting or sandboxing can limit the impact of crashes and prevent malicious files from being processed by vulnerable applications. Endpoint protection solutions that detect anomalous application behavior or crashes may provide early warning signs of exploitation attempts. Network-level controls, such as filtering or blocking suspicious file types in email and web traffic, can reduce exposure. Finally, organizations should maintain regular backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential denial-of-service disruptions.