CVE-2024-54494 is a vulnerability stemming from a race condition in Apple tvOS and other Apple operating systems, including iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, and macOS. The flaw allows an attacker to create a read-only memory mapping that can be written to, violating expected memory protection mechanisms. This is due to insufficient validation during the creation of memory mappings, which was addressed by Apple through additional validation checks in the patched versions (tvOS 18.2, iPadOS 17.7.3 and 18.2, watchOS 11.2, visionOS 2.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, macOS Ventura 13.7.2, and macOS Sonoma 14.7.2). The vulnerability is classified under CWE-362 (Race Condition), indicating a timing issue that can be exploited to alter the intended behavior of memory protections. The CVSS v3.1 score is 5.9 (medium severity) with an attack vector of network, high attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, no confidentiality impact, high integrity impact, and no availability impact. This means an attacker can remotely exploit the flaw without authentication or user interaction but must overcome a complex timing condition. The primary risk is integrity compromise, potentially allowing attackers to modify memory regions that should be immutable, which could lead to privilege escalation or bypassing security controls. No public exploits are known at this time, but the vulnerability's nature makes it a candidate for future exploitation if left unpatched.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-54494 centers on the potential for attackers to compromise the integrity of systems running vulnerable Apple operating systems, particularly tvOS devices. This could affect organizations using Apple TV devices in corporate environments, digital signage, or media distribution systems. The integrity compromise could allow attackers to execute unauthorized code or escalate privileges, potentially leading to further network penetration or data manipulation. Although confidentiality and availability are not directly impacted, the ability to alter memory protections undermines system trustworthiness and could facilitate more severe attacks. The medium severity rating reflects the complexity of exploitation and limited scope, but the widespread use of Apple devices in Europe means that unpatched systems could become targets. Sectors such as media, education, hospitality, and enterprises with Apple device ecosystems are at higher risk. Additionally, organizations relying on Apple devices for critical operations should consider the risk of indirect impacts from this vulnerability.

European organizations should immediately apply the security updates released by Apple for all affected operating systems, including tvOS 18.2, iPadOS 17.7.3 and 18.2, watchOS 11.2, visionOS 2.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2, Ventura 13.7.2, and Sonoma 14.7.2. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict device management policies to ensure all Apple devices are regularly updated and monitored. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous memory manipulation or race condition exploitation attempts. Network segmentation can limit exposure of vulnerable devices to untrusted networks. Additionally, conduct regular security audits of Apple device configurations and usage to identify unauthorized changes or suspicious behavior. Educate IT staff on the specifics of this vulnerability to improve incident response readiness. For environments where immediate patching is not feasible, consider restricting network access to vulnerable devices and disabling unnecessary services that could be exploited remotely.