CVE-2024-40836 is a logic vulnerability identified in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS platforms, as well as macOS Sonoma and watchOS, that allows malicious shortcuts to access sensitive data without triggering user prompts. The root cause is insufficient validation within the shortcut execution framework, which fails to enforce user consent before allowing access to sensitive information. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information) and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5, indicating high severity. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N) highlights that the vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without any privileges or user interaction, and it impacts the integrity of sensitive data by allowing unauthorized modification or use, though confidentiality impact is not explicitly stated as lost. The flaw was addressed by Apple through improved checks in shortcut actions and is patched in iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, iOS 16.7.9, iPadOS 16.7.9, macOS Sonoma 14.6, and watchOS 10.6. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the potential for abuse exists given the ease of exploitation and the sensitive nature of data accessible via shortcuts. The vulnerability affects all versions prior to these patches, with unspecified affected versions. The issue is particularly concerning because shortcuts are widely used for automation on Apple devices, and this vulnerability could be leveraged to bypass user consent mechanisms, leading to unauthorized data access or manipulation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data accessed or processed on Apple devices. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure that rely on iOS and iPadOS devices for communication and data handling could face data breaches or unauthorized data manipulation. The lack of user interaction or privileges required for exploitation increases the risk of stealthy attacks, potentially enabling attackers to execute malicious shortcuts remotely or through social engineering without alerting users. This could lead to unauthorized access to confidential information, disruption of business processes, and compliance violations under GDPR due to data exposure. The widespread use of Apple devices in Europe, especially in countries with high technology adoption, amplifies the potential impact. Additionally, organizations using automated workflows and shortcuts for operational tasks may experience integrity issues if shortcuts are exploited to alter data or configurations.

European organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the security updates released by Apple for iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, iOS 16.7.9, iPadOS 16.7.9, macOS Sonoma 14.6, and watchOS 10.6 to remediate this vulnerability. Beyond patching, organizations should audit and restrict the use of shortcuts, especially those that access sensitive data or perform critical actions. Implement policies to limit shortcut creation and execution to trusted users and applications. Employ Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to enforce security configurations and monitor shortcut usage. Educate users about the risks of installing or running untrusted shortcuts and encourage vigilance against social engineering attempts that may deliver malicious shortcuts. Regularly review and update security controls related to automation and scripting on Apple devices. Finally, monitor device logs and network traffic for unusual shortcut activity that could indicate exploitation attempts.