CVE-2024-40806 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability identified in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS platforms, as well as other Apple operating systems like macOS Ventura, Monterey, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. The root cause is insufficient input validation when processing certain file types, allowing a specially crafted malicious file to trigger an out-of-bounds read condition. This results in unexpected application termination, effectively a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read). Apple has addressed this issue in updates including iOS 16.7.9, iOS 17.6, and corresponding versions of other OSes. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level with the vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H, meaning the attack requires local access and user interaction but no privileges, impacts availability only, and does not affect confidentiality or integrity. No public exploits or active exploitation campaigns have been reported to date. The vulnerability could be exploited by tricking a user into opening a malicious file, causing the targeted app to crash unexpectedly, potentially disrupting workflows or services relying on that app. This vulnerability affects a broad range of Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, Apple TVs, and visionOS devices, making it relevant to diverse user bases.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-40806 is availability disruption due to application crashes triggered by malicious files. This can interrupt business operations, especially in environments where Apple devices are integral to daily workflows, such as creative industries, finance, healthcare, and government sectors. While the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, denial-of-service conditions can degrade user productivity and potentially cause cascading effects if critical applications become unavailable. Organizations relying on Apple ecosystems for communication, document handling, or specialized applications may experience operational delays or require incident response efforts to recover from crashes. The requirement for user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, as phishing or social engineering could deliver malicious files. Given the widespread use of Apple devices in Europe, unpatched systems represent a significant attack surface. Additionally, sectors with stringent uptime requirements or regulatory obligations around service availability must prioritize mitigation to avoid compliance issues or reputational damage.

1. Apply the latest Apple security updates immediately across all affected devices, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS versions listed as patched by Apple. 2. Implement strict controls on file sources by restricting downloads and email attachments to trusted origins and scanning files for malicious content before opening. 3. Educate users on the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected files, emphasizing caution with files received via email, messaging apps, or unverified websites. 4. Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring application crashes and anomalous behavior on Apple devices to detect potential exploitation attempts. 5. Utilize mobile device management (MDM) tools to enforce update policies and restrict installation of unapproved applications or files. 6. Maintain regular backups of critical data and configurations to enable rapid recovery in case of disruption caused by application crashes. 7. Review and harden application sandboxing and permissions to limit the impact scope if an app crashes. 8. Coordinate with IT and security teams to monitor threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploit activity related to this CVE.