CVE-2024-54497 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-770, indicating an issue with allocation of resources without limits or throttling, leading to a potential denial-of-service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability exists in the way Apple operating systems process web content, where insufficient validation or checks allow crafted web content to exhaust system resources or cause application crashes. This can lead to a DoS, impacting availability but not confidentiality or integrity. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Apple OS products including macOS Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS, with patches released in versions such as macOS Ventura 13.7.3 and macOS Sonoma 14.7.3. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.5 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), no impact on confidentiality or integrity (C:N/I:N), but high impact on availability (A:H). Exploitation requires a user to interact with malicious web content, such as visiting a compromised or malicious website. There are no known exploits in the wild currently, but the vulnerability poses a risk of service disruption. The issue was addressed by Apple through improved checks in the affected components. The vulnerability is relevant for any environment where Apple devices are used to access web content, especially in enterprise or critical infrastructure contexts.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-54497 is the potential for denial-of-service conditions on Apple devices, which could disrupt business operations, especially in environments relying heavily on macOS or other Apple OS platforms. This could affect end-user productivity, availability of critical applications, and potentially lead to cascading effects if Apple devices are part of essential workflows or infrastructure management. While the vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact can be significant in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and technology where Apple devices are prevalent. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be used to trigger the exploit, increasing risk in environments with less user awareness. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits post-disclosure. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces using Apple devices are particularly vulnerable to disruption from malicious web content.

1. Apply patches promptly: Ensure all Apple devices are updated to the fixed versions listed (e.g., macOS Ventura 13.7.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, iOS 18.2, etc.) as soon as possible to eliminate the vulnerability. 2. Implement web content filtering: Use secure web gateways or proxy solutions to filter and block access to malicious or untrusted web content that could trigger the vulnerability. 3. User awareness training: Educate users about the risks of interacting with suspicious websites or links, emphasizing caution with unsolicited or unknown web content. 4. Network segmentation: Limit exposure of critical Apple devices to untrusted networks or the internet to reduce the attack surface. 5. Monitor for anomalous behavior: Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify unusual application crashes or resource exhaustion patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Incident response readiness: Prepare response plans for potential DoS incidents affecting Apple devices to minimize operational impact. 7. Restrict use of vulnerable devices in critical roles until patched, if feasible, to reduce risk.