CVE-2024-54502 is a vulnerability identified in Apple tvOS and other Apple operating systems and browsers, where processing specially crafted web content can trigger an unexpected process crash. The root cause is related to an out-of-bounds read condition (CWE-125), which occurs when the system improperly validates or bounds-checks data while rendering or processing web content. This vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms including tvOS, watchOS, visionOS, macOS Sequoia, Safari, iOS, and iPadOS, with fixes released in their respective 18.2 or 11.2 versions. The attack vector is remote network (AV:N), requiring no privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as visiting a malicious website or opening crafted web content. The impact is limited to availability (A:H), causing the affected process to crash unexpectedly, potentially leading to denial of service conditions on the device. There is no impact on confidentiality or integrity, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild to date. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on December 11, 2024, and Apple addressed it by improving input validation and bounds checking to prevent the out-of-bounds read. This vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to disrupt services on Apple TV devices and other Apple platforms, especially in environments where these devices are used for media streaming or enterprise applications.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-54502 is the potential for denial of service on Apple TV devices and other affected Apple platforms. This could disrupt media streaming services, digital signage, or enterprise applications relying on these devices, leading to operational downtime and user inconvenience. While the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, repeated crashes could degrade user experience and increase support costs. Organizations in sectors such as media, entertainment, education, and corporate environments that deploy Apple TV or related devices extensively may face service interruptions. Additionally, if attackers combine this vulnerability with social engineering to induce user interaction, they could cause targeted disruptions. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the widespread use of Apple devices in Europe means the attack surface is significant. The impact is more operational than data-centric, but persistent denial of service could affect business continuity and reputation.

European organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple devices to the latest patched versions: tvOS 18.2, watchOS 11.2, visionOS 2.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, Safari 18.2, iOS 18.2, and iPadOS 18.2. Beyond patching, organizations should implement network-level controls to restrict access to untrusted or suspicious web content on Apple TV devices, such as using secure web gateways or DNS filtering. User education is important to reduce the risk of interacting with malicious web content, especially in environments where Apple TV devices are used interactively. Monitoring device logs for unexpected crashes can help detect exploitation attempts. For enterprise deployments, consider segmenting Apple TV devices on separate VLANs to limit potential impact. Regularly review and update device management policies to ensure timely patch deployment. Finally, coordinate with Apple support for any device-specific mitigation advice and maintain awareness of any emerging exploit reports.