CVE-2024-27791: Apple iPadOS Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2024-27791 Overview

CVE-2024-27791 is a memory corruption vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS. A malicious application running locally on an affected device can corrupt coprocessor memory, leading to integrity and availability impact. Apple addressed the flaw through improved validation checks across affected platforms.

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer). Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, but a successful attack can compromise the coprocessor, a component that operates outside the main application processor security boundary.

Critical Impact
A malicious app can corrupt coprocessor memory, potentially undermining device integrity and stability across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV devices.

Affected Products

Apple iOS and iPadOS (fixed in iOS 16.7.5, iPadOS 16.7.5, iOS 17.3, iPadOS 17.3)
Apple macOS Monterey 12.7.3, macOS Ventura 13.6.4, macOS Sonoma 14.3
Apple tvOS 17.3

Discovery Timeline

2024-04-24 - CVE-2024-27791 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-27791

Vulnerability Analysis

The issue is a memory corruption flaw in a coprocessor component shared across Apple's operating systems. Coprocessors handle offloaded workloads such as signal processing, imaging, and security tasks, and they maintain their own memory regions separate from the main CPU. When application-controllable input reaches the coprocessor interface without adequate validation, an attacker-controlled app can write outside the intended memory bounds.

Apple's advisories describe the fix as "improved checks," indicating that validation logic on data passed to the coprocessor was insufficient. The vulnerability requires local execution and user interaction, which typically means the target must launch or interact with the malicious app. Successful exploitation yields high integrity and availability impact but no direct confidentiality loss.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper restriction of memory operations at the boundary between an application-facing interface and the coprocessor memory region. The affected code path accepted parameters or buffers whose size or offset was not properly bounded, allowing a crafted request from an app to overwrite memory the coprocessor uses for state or code.

Attack Vector

An attacker delivers a malicious application to the target device through sideloading, developer provisioning, or a compromised legitimate app. When the user runs the app, it issues crafted requests to the vulnerable coprocessor interface. The malformed input triggers the memory corruption, which can destabilize the coprocessor or manipulate its behavior. See the Apple Support advisory HT214055 and companion advisories for platform-specific technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-27791

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected application crashes, kernel panics, or device reboots following interaction with a recently installed or updated third-party app.
Anomalous coprocessor-related log entries in system diagnostics referencing invalid memory access or watchdog resets.
Applications requesting unusual entitlements or low-level hardware access outside their stated function.

Detection Strategies

Inventory managed Apple devices and identify endpoints running OS versions earlier than iOS/iPadOS 17.3, macOS 14.3, macOS 13.6.4, macOS 12.7.3, or tvOS 17.3.
Use mobile device management (MDM) posture checks to flag out-of-date builds and quarantine non-compliant devices.
Review installed application inventory for unsigned, sideloaded, or enterprise-provisioned apps that could deliver a local exploit.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor endpoint telemetry for repeated application crashes correlated with the same process or bundle identifier.
Ingest macOS unified logs and iOS crash reports into a central analytics platform for correlation across the fleet.
Alert on newly installed applications on managed devices that lack notarization or come from unapproved distribution channels.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-27791

Immediate Actions Required

Update affected devices to iOS 16.7.5, iPadOS 16.7.5, iOS 17.3, iPadOS 17.3, macOS Monterey 12.7.3, macOS Ventura 13.6.4, macOS Sonoma 14.3, or tvOS 17.3 or later.
Enforce OS version compliance policies through MDM and block enrollment or network access for devices below the patched baselines.
Audit installed applications and remove any untrusted or unnecessary third-party software with elevated hardware access.

Patch Information

Apple released fixes across all affected platforms in January 2024. Refer to Apple's advisories for platform-specific patch details: iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3, macOS Sonoma 14.3, macOS Ventura 13.6.4, macOS Monterey 12.7.3, iOS 16.7.5 and iPadOS 16.7.5, and tvOS 17.3.

Workarounds

Restrict application installation to the official App Store and notarized developers via MDM configuration profiles.
Disable developer mode, enterprise provisioning, and TestFlight distribution on devices that do not require them.
Educate users to avoid installing apps from unfamiliar sources and to report unexpected device crashes or reboots.

bash

# Configuration example - verify macOS build version meets patched baseline
sw_vers -productVersion
# Expected output: 12.7.3, 13.6.4, 14.3 or later

# On iOS/iPadOS via MDM query, confirm OSVersion is one of:
# 16.7.5, 17.3, or later