CVE-2024-40793 is a vulnerability identified in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS platforms that allows an application with limited privileges to access user-sensitive data improperly. The root cause is an access control weakness (classified under CWE-200: Information Exposure) where the vulnerable code permitted unauthorized data disclosure. This issue does not require user interaction to exploit, but the attacker must have local privileges on the device, such as through a malicious app installed by the user or via other means. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple operating systems, including iOS 16.x, iPadOS 16.x, macOS Ventura, Monterey, Sonoma, and watchOS versions, with fixes released in iOS 16.7.9, iPadOS 16.7.9, iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, macOS 13.6.8, 12.7.6, 14.6, and watchOS 10.6. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting a local attack vector with low complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, and resulting in high confidentiality impact but no integrity or availability impact. No public exploits have been reported, indicating limited current exploitation but a potential risk if malicious actors develop exploit code. The vulnerability’s fix involved removing the vulnerable code to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive user data. This vulnerability is particularly concerning for environments where sensitive personal or corporate data is stored on Apple devices, as unauthorized data access could lead to privacy breaches or information leakage.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on Apple devices, which could include personal information, corporate credentials, or confidential communications. The impact is primarily on confidentiality, with no direct effect on data integrity or system availability. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, legal, and government, where sensitive data protection is critical, could face compliance and reputational risks if exploited. The requirement for local privileges limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or social engineering attacks that lead to malicious app installation could trigger exploitation. Given the widespread use of Apple devices in Europe, especially in business and government sectors, unpatched devices could be targeted for data exfiltration. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, emphasizing the need for proactive patch management. Failure to address this vulnerability could lead to breaches of GDPR and other data protection regulations, resulting in legal and financial penalties.

European organizations should implement a multi-layered mitigation approach: 1) Prioritize immediate deployment of Apple’s security updates (iOS 16.7.9, iPadOS 16.7.9, macOS 13.6.8, etc.) across all managed Apple devices to eliminate the vulnerability. 2) Enforce strict app installation policies, limiting installations to trusted sources such as the Apple App Store and using Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to control app permissions and monitor for unauthorized apps. 3) Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and phishing attempts that could lead to malicious app installation. 4) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of identifying anomalous app behaviors indicative of data access abuse. 5) Regularly audit device configurations and app permissions to ensure compliance with security policies. 6) For highly sensitive environments, consider additional data encryption and compartmentalization strategies to reduce the impact of potential data exposure. 7) Maintain incident response readiness to quickly investigate and remediate any suspected exploitation attempts. These steps go beyond generic patching by focusing on reducing the attack surface and improving detection capabilities.