CVE-2024-54492: Apple iPadOS Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2024-54492 Overview

CVE-2024-54492 is a network security vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems where sensitive information was transmitted over insecure HTTP connections instead of HTTPS. This insecure communication channel allows an attacker with a privileged network position to intercept and alter network traffic, potentially compromising data integrity during transmission.

Critical Impact

An attacker in a privileged network position may be able to alter network traffic, enabling man-in-the-middle attacks that could modify data in transit between Apple devices and remote servers.

Affected Products

• Apple iPadOS (versions prior to 17.7.3 and 18.2)
• Apple iOS (versions prior to 18.2)
• Apple macOS Sequoia (versions prior to 15.2)
• Apple visionOS (versions prior to 2.2)

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-12-12 - CVE-2024-54492 published to NVD
• 2026-04-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-54492

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from the use of unencrypted HTTP communications when transmitting information over the network. When data is sent over HTTP rather than HTTPS, it lacks the encryption and integrity protections provided by TLS/SSL, leaving the communication channel vulnerable to interception and modification.

The attack requires the adversary to be in a privileged network position, such as on the same local network segment, controlling a network router, or operating as a malicious access point. From this position, the attacker can perform man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks to intercept, inspect, and modify network traffic in real-time.

While the vulnerability does not directly impact data confidentiality in the CVSS assessment, the ability to alter network traffic could lead to serious consequences including injection of malicious content, modification of application updates, or manipulation of data received by affected devices.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-54492 is the improper use of insecure HTTP protocol for network communications that should have been protected with HTTPS. This represents a failure to implement transport layer security for sensitive data transmission, leaving network traffic exposed to interception and modification by privileged network attackers.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring the attacker to have a privileged position on the network path between the victim device and the destination server. Exploitation scenarios include:

Network Position Requirements:

• Operating a rogue wireless access point that victims connect to
• Compromising network infrastructure such as routers or switches
• Performing ARP spoofing or DNS hijacking on a local network
• Acting as a malicious ISP or network operator

Attack Execution:
Once in position, the attacker can intercept HTTP traffic and modify responses before they reach the victim's Apple device. This could allow injection of malicious payloads, modification of downloaded content, or alteration of configuration data. The attack does not require user interaction and can be executed without authentication.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-54492

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected HTTP traffic from Apple devices that should be using HTTPS for secure communications
• Network logs showing unencrypted connections to Apple services or related endpoints
• Certificate warning bypasses or SSL/TLS downgrade attempts in network traffic analysis
• Anomalous DNS responses redirecting legitimate Apple domains to unauthorized servers

Detection Strategies

• Deploy network traffic analysis tools to identify HTTP connections originating from Apple devices where HTTPS should be expected
• Monitor for ARP spoofing or DNS manipulation attempts that could indicate man-in-the-middle positioning
• Implement intrusion detection system (IDS) rules to alert on potential SSL stripping or protocol downgrade attacks
• Review endpoint security logs for network connection anomalies or unexpected certificate warnings

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable network flow logging to capture connection metadata and identify unencrypted traffic patterns
• Configure SIEM alerts for suspicious network activity patterns consistent with MITM attacks
• Monitor for devices running vulnerable Apple OS versions and prioritize them for patching
• Implement network segmentation monitoring to detect unauthorized lateral movement

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-54492

Immediate Actions Required

• Update all Apple devices to the patched versions: iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 or iPadOS 17.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.2, and visionOS 2.2
• Avoid connecting vulnerable devices to untrusted or public WiFi networks until patching is complete
• Enable VPN connections on vulnerable devices to add an additional encryption layer while awaiting patches
• Review network security controls and ensure proper segmentation to limit potential attacker positioning

Patch Information

Apple has released security updates that address this vulnerability by implementing HTTPS for all affected network communications. The following versions contain the fix:

• iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 - Apple Security Advisory #121837
• iPadOS 17.7.3 - Apple Security Advisory #121838
• macOS Sequoia 15.2 - Apple Security Advisory #121839
• visionOS 2.2 - Apple Security Advisory #121845

Users should update their devices through the standard software update mechanism in Settings (iOS/iPadOS/visionOS) or System Settings (macOS).

Workarounds

• Use a trusted VPN service when connecting to any network to encrypt all traffic regardless of the underlying protocol
• Connect only to trusted, secured networks with proper encryption (WPA3/WPA2) until devices are patched
• Implement network-level security controls such as 802.1X authentication to prevent unauthorized network access
• Consider using mobile device management (MDM) to enforce network security policies on enterprise devices