CVE-2024-27812: Apple visionOS DoS Vulnerability

CVE-2024-27812 Overview

CVE-2024-27812 is a denial-of-service vulnerability affecting Apple visionOS that stems from improper file handling protocol implementation. When processing maliciously crafted web content, the vulnerability can be exploited to cause a denial-of-service condition on affected devices. Apple addressed this issue with improvements to the file handling protocol in visionOS 1.2.

Critical Impact

Processing malicious web content can trigger a denial-of-service condition, potentially rendering Apple Vision Pro devices temporarily unusable and disrupting user workflows.

Affected Products

• Apple visionOS versions prior to 1.2
• Apple Vision Pro devices running vulnerable visionOS versions

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-06-10 - CVE-2024-27812 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-27812

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-400 (Uncontrolled Resource Consumption), indicating that the issue involves improper handling of resources when processing web content. The vulnerability exists in the file handling protocol implementation within visionOS. When the system processes specially crafted web content, it fails to properly manage resources, leading to a denial-of-service condition.

The attack can be executed remotely over the network but requires user interaction—typically the user must visit a malicious website or view crafted web content. While the vulnerability does not impact confidentiality or integrity of the system, it can cause complete disruption of availability.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in the file handling protocol's insufficient resource management when processing web content. The vulnerability occurs due to inadequate validation or resource limits during file processing operations triggered by web content. Apple's fix involved improvements to the file handling protocol to prevent resource exhaustion scenarios.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires user interaction for exploitation. An attacker could craft malicious web content designed to trigger the vulnerable file handling code path. When a user navigates to a webpage containing this malicious content using their Apple Vision Pro device, the improper resource handling can exhaust system resources, causing a denial-of-service condition.

The attack does not require any prior privileges on the target system, making it relatively accessible for potential attackers. However, the scope is unchanged, meaning the impact is limited to the vulnerable component itself without affecting other components.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-27812

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected application crashes or system freezes when browsing web content
• Abnormal resource consumption (memory or CPU) during web browsing sessions
• System unresponsiveness following visits to untrusted or unknown websites
• Repeated Safari or web view component crashes in system logs

Detection Strategies

• Monitor visionOS device logs for recurring crashes related to web content processing
• Implement network monitoring to identify connections to known malicious domains
• Review application crash reports for patterns indicating resource exhaustion
• Enable endpoint detection tools to identify anomalous resource consumption patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure alerts for unexpected spikes in resource utilization on visionOS devices
• Monitor for patterns of application crashes that coincide with web browsing activity
• Maintain logs of visited URLs to correlate with any DoS events
• Implement web filtering solutions to block access to known malicious content

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-27812

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Apple visionOS to version 1.2 or later immediately
• Advise users to avoid visiting untrusted websites until patches are applied
• Implement web filtering to block potentially malicious content
• Monitor devices for signs of exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Apple has released visionOS 1.2 to address this vulnerability. The fix includes improvements to the file handling protocol to prevent denial-of-service conditions when processing web content. Organizations and users should apply this update as soon as possible.

For detailed patch information, refer to the Apple Security Support Article or the Apple Knowledge Base Article.

Workarounds

• Restrict web browsing on affected devices to trusted, known-safe websites only
• Use content filtering or web proxy solutions to inspect and block potentially malicious web content
• Consider temporarily disabling web browsing functionality on critical devices until patches can be applied
• Implement network-level controls to limit exposure to untrusted web content

# Verify visionOS version on Apple Vision Pro
# Navigate to: Settings > General > About
# Ensure version is 1.2 or later

# If using MDM, verify device compliance
# Check enrolled device OS versions match or exceed visionOS 1.2