CVE-2024-54510 is a race condition vulnerability identified in Apple tvOS and several other Apple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS variants. The root cause is an insufficient locking mechanism in the kernel that allows a malicious application to leak sensitive kernel state information. This leakage can expose internal kernel memory contents, potentially revealing sensitive data or aiding attackers in crafting further exploits such as privilege escalation or bypassing security controls. The vulnerability does not allow direct code execution or modification of kernel memory, nor does it impact system availability, but the confidentiality breach is significant. The flaw requires local access to the device and does not need user interaction or elevated privileges, which lowers the attack complexity but limits the attack surface to local apps. Apple has released patches in tvOS 18.2, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 17.7.3 and 18.2, watchOS 11.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, Ventura 13.7.2, and Sonoma 14.7.2 to address this issue by improving locking mechanisms to prevent the race condition. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-362 (Race Condition). No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported so far. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.1, indicating a medium severity level, with attack vector local, attack complexity high, no privileges required, no user interaction, and impact limited to confidentiality. This vulnerability is relevant for environments where Apple devices are used, especially those running vulnerable OS versions and allowing installation of untrusted apps.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-54510 is the potential leakage of sensitive kernel memory, which can undermine the confidentiality of system internals. While it does not directly allow code execution or system compromise, the leaked information could facilitate more advanced attacks such as privilege escalation or kernel exploit development. Organizations deploying Apple TV devices in corporate, media, or public environments may face risks if untrusted or malicious apps are installed. The vulnerability could also affect enterprises using other Apple devices running the affected OS versions, increasing the attack surface. The medium severity reflects that exploitation requires local access and has high complexity, limiting widespread impact. However, in sensitive sectors such as government, finance, or critical infrastructure, even limited kernel information leakage can be leveraged for targeted attacks. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat. Failure to patch could expose organizations to stealthy reconnaissance and subsequent compromise.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Promptly apply the security updates released by Apple for tvOS 18.2 and other affected OS versions to eliminate the race condition. 2) Restrict installation of apps to trusted sources only, such as the official Apple App Store, and enforce app vetting policies to prevent malicious apps from gaining local access. 3) Employ Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to centrally manage and enforce OS updates and app installation policies on Apple devices. 4) Monitor device logs and behavior for unusual activity that could indicate attempts to exploit kernel vulnerabilities. 5) Limit physical and network access to Apple devices in sensitive environments to reduce the risk of local exploitation. 6) Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted applications and the importance of timely updates. 7) For high-security environments, consider additional endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous kernel memory access patterns. These steps go beyond generic patching advice by emphasizing app control, device management, and monitoring tailored to the Apple ecosystem.