CVE-2024-40786 Overview
CVE-2024-40786 is an information disclosure vulnerability affecting Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. The flaw stems from improper state management within the operating system. An attacker with network access can exploit the issue to view sensitive user information without requiring authentication or user interaction. Apple addressed the vulnerability through improved state management in iOS 16.7.9, iPadOS 16.7.9, iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, and macOS Ventura 13.6.8. The weakness is categorized under [CWE-284] Improper Access Control.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can access sensitive user information on unpatched Apple devices without authentication or user interaction.
Affected Products
- Apple iOS prior to 16.7.9 and prior to 17.6
- Apple iPadOS prior to 16.7.9 and prior to 17.6
- Apple macOS Ventura prior to 13.6.8
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-07-29 - CVE-2024-40786 published to NVD
- 2026-04-02 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-40786
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability results from improper state management in components shared across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. State management defects allow application or system state to become inconsistent during certain operations. The inconsistency exposes sensitive user data to unauthorized observers over the network. Apple's advisory describes the issue as fixed through improved state management, indicating the original implementation failed to properly track or enforce data access boundaries during state transitions.
The vulnerability falls under improper access control [CWE-284]. Access control failures permit subjects to perform actions or read data they should not have permission to access. In this case, the consequence is confidentiality loss without effect on integrity or availability.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper state management that fails to enforce access boundaries on sensitive user information. Apple's patch reinforces state tracking so the affected component does not expose data during transitional or unauthenticated states. Specific technical details on the affected subsystem are not disclosed in the public advisory.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based. An unauthenticated remote attacker can reach the vulnerable component without user interaction. The exploit yields confidentiality impact only — integrity and availability of the target system remain intact. No public proof-of-concept or exploit code is currently available, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
No verified exploit code is publicly available. See the Apple Support Document HT214116, HT214117, and HT214120 for vendor-provided technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-40786
Indicators of Compromise
- No specific indicators of compromise have been published by Apple or third-party researchers for this vulnerability.
- Anomalous network connections from unmanaged or unknown hosts to Apple endpoints prior to patching should be investigated.
- Unexpected egress of sensitive user metadata or credentials from iOS, iPadOS, or macOS hosts warrants review.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory all Apple devices and identify those running iOS or iPadOS prior to 16.7.9 or 17.6, or macOS Ventura prior to 13.6.8.
- Use mobile device management (MDM) and endpoint management tooling to confirm OS build versions across the fleet.
- Correlate network telemetry with patch status to prioritize triage on unpatched devices exposed to untrusted networks.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor MDM compliance reports for devices that have not received the iOS 16.7.9, iOS 17.6, or macOS Ventura 13.6.8 updates.
- Track outbound connections from Apple endpoints to unfamiliar IP ranges and flag deviations from baseline behavior.
- Review authentication and application logs on macOS for unexpected access to user-scoped data stores.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-40786
Immediate Actions Required
- Update affected devices to iOS 16.7.9, iPadOS 16.7.9, iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, or macOS Ventura 13.6.8 or later.
- Prioritize devices that connect to untrusted networks or that handle sensitive user information.
- Confirm patch deployment through MDM compliance reporting and version verification.
Patch Information
Apple released fixes in the following updates: iOS 16.7.9, iPadOS 16.7.9, iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, and macOS Ventura 13.6.8. Refer to the Apple Support Document 120908, 120909, and 120912 for the complete list of security content addressed in each release.
Workarounds
- No vendor-published workarounds exist for CVE-2024-40786. Apply the security update as the only supported remediation.
- Restrict network exposure of affected devices until patches are deployed by limiting access to trusted networks.
- Enforce VPN connectivity for mobile devices that must operate on untrusted networks before patching.
# Verify macOS version after patching
sw_vers -productVersion
# Verify iOS/iPadOS version via MDM query or on-device:
# Settings > General > About > Software Version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
