CVE-2024-40786 is a vulnerability identified in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS operating systems, as well as macOS Ventura, that allows an attacker to view sensitive user information without authentication or user interaction. The root cause is related to improper state management within the affected operating systems, which could lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential data. The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5, indicating a high severity level. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requiring no privileges (PR:N) and no user interaction (UI:N), which significantly increases the risk of exploitation. The impact is limited to confidentiality (C:H), with no effect on integrity or availability. Apple has released patches in iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, iOS 16.7.9, iPadOS 16.7.9, and macOS Ventura 13.6.8 to address this issue by improving state management mechanisms. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, but the vulnerability’s characteristics suggest it could be leveraged remotely to extract sensitive data from vulnerable devices. The CWE classification CWE-284 indicates an authorization bypass or improper access control issue. The affected versions are unspecified but presumably include all versions prior to the patched releases. This vulnerability poses a significant risk to user privacy and data security on Apple devices.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-40786 can be substantial, particularly for those relying heavily on Apple mobile devices and macOS systems. The unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user information could lead to privacy violations, intellectual property theft, or exposure of confidential corporate data. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure are especially vulnerable due to the sensitive nature of the data they handle. The fact that exploitation requires no authentication or user interaction increases the likelihood of remote attacks, potentially enabling attackers to conduct espionage or data exfiltration without detection. This could undermine trust in organizational security and result in regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is compromised. Additionally, the vulnerability could be exploited as a foothold for further attacks or lateral movement within networks. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the risk remains high given the ease of exploitation and the widespread use of Apple devices in Europe.

European organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Apple devices by upgrading to iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, iOS 16.7.9, iPadOS 16.7.9, or macOS Ventura 13.6.8 as applicable. Network-level protections such as restricting inbound connections to Apple devices, implementing strict firewall rules, and deploying intrusion detection systems tuned to detect anomalous access patterns can help reduce exposure. Organizations should conduct audits to identify all Apple devices in use and verify their patch status. Employing Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions can facilitate rapid deployment of updates and enforce security policies. Monitoring logs for unusual access or data access patterns is critical to detect potential exploitation attempts. User education should emphasize the importance of timely updates and awareness of phishing or social engineering tactics that could be combined with this vulnerability. Finally, organizations should review and limit the sensitive data stored on mobile devices to minimize potential exposure.