CVE-2024-27836: Apple iPadOS RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-27836 Overview

CVE-2024-27836 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability [CWE-787] affecting Apple's image processing across multiple operating systems. Processing a maliciously crafted image can lead to arbitrary code execution on affected devices. Apple addressed the flaw with improved input validation checks in iOS 17.5, iPadOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5, and visionOS 1.2.

The vulnerability requires user interaction and local access but grants high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers can weaponize malicious image files delivered through messaging, email, or web content to compromise vulnerable Apple endpoints.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation enables arbitrary code execution in the context of the image-processing component, potentially leading to full device compromise across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro platforms.

Affected Products

Apple iOS (prior to 17.5)
Apple iPadOS (prior to 17.5)
Apple macOS Sonoma (prior to 14.5)
Apple visionOS (prior to 1.2)

Discovery Timeline

2024-06-10 - CVE-2024-27836 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-27836

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-27836 resides in Apple's image parsing logic, which is shared across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS. When the operating system processes a specially crafted image file, insufficient bounds validation allows a write operation to exceed the boundaries of an allocated buffer. This out-of-bounds write corrupts adjacent memory structures and can be leveraged to hijack execution flow.

Because image parsing is invoked automatically by numerous system components, including preview panes, messaging clients, and web content renderers, the attack surface is broad. An attacker only needs the target to open or preview a malicious file. Apple's advisory states the issue was addressed with improved checks, indicating that the fix hardens boundary validation during image decoding.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper validation of image metadata or pixel data during decoding, resulting in an out-of-bounds memory write [CWE-787]. Attacker-controlled fields in the crafted image drive the write past allocated bounds, corrupting heap or stack structures used by the image subsystem.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires the victim to process a maliciously crafted image. Delivery vectors include email attachments, iMessage content, AirDrop, malicious websites rendering embedded images, and shared cloud storage. The CVSS vector reflects a local attack path with required user interaction, and successful exploitation yields high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact within the affected process context.

No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this CVE. See the Apple Security Advisory #120903 for vendor-provided technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-27836

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected crashes or restarts of image-handling processes such as ImageIO, Preview, or MobileSlideShow on Apple devices.
Anomalous inbound image files delivered via messaging, email, or AirDrop from untrusted senders, particularly with malformed headers or unusual file sizes.
Post-exploitation artifacts including new launch agents, unexpected outbound network connections, or unauthorized profile installations following image preview activity.

Detection Strategies

Monitor endpoint telemetry for abnormal child-process creation originating from image rendering or preview components.
Correlate crash reports referencing ImageIO.framework with recent file downloads or message activity to identify potential exploitation attempts.
Inspect email and messaging gateways for image files with malformed structures or oversized metadata sections that deviate from format specifications.

Monitoring Recommendations

Track operating system version compliance across managed Apple fleets using MDM inventory to identify devices still below the patched builds.
Alert on crash logs and diagnostic reports submitted by macOS and iOS endpoints that reference image codecs or memory corruption signatures.
Log and review file downloads and attachment previews on user endpoints for correlation with subsequent suspicious process behavior.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-27836

Immediate Actions Required

Update all Apple devices to iOS 17.5, iPadOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5, or visionOS 1.2 or later using MDM-enforced update policies.
Prioritize patching for users who routinely process untrusted image content, including executives, journalists, and researchers.
Audit device inventories for end-of-support hardware that cannot receive the fixed builds and plan replacement or isolation.

Patch Information

Apple released fixes in iOS 17.5, iPadOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5, and visionOS 1.2. Refer to the vendor advisories for full details: Apple Security Update HT214101, Apple Security Update HT214106, and Apple Security Update HT214108.

Workarounds

Disable automatic image previews in Mail and messaging clients where feasible to reduce exposure to unsolicited image content.
Restrict AirDrop to Contacts Only or off to limit delivery of untrusted files from nearby devices.
Enable Lockdown Mode for high-risk users, which restricts message attachment types and web technologies that could deliver malicious images.

bash

# Verify current macOS version and confirm patched build
sw_vers -productVersion

# Trigger software update check on macOS
sudo softwareupdate --list
sudo softwareupdate --install --all --restart