CVE-2024-54527: Apple iPadOS Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2024-54527 Overview

CVE-2024-54527 is a sensitive data exposure vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems including macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS. The vulnerability allows a malicious application to bypass security checks and access sensitive user data without proper authorization. Apple addressed this issue with improved checks in their December 2024 security updates.

Critical Impact

Malicious applications can access sensitive user data due to insufficient security checks, potentially exposing private information across Apple's ecosystem of devices.

Affected Products

• Apple macOS (Sequoia prior to 15.2, Sonoma prior to 14.7.2, Ventura prior to 13.7.2)
• Apple iOS and iPadOS (prior to 18.2)
• Apple watchOS (prior to 11.2)
• Apple tvOS (prior to 18.2)

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-12-12 - CVE-2024-54527 published to NVD
• 2025-11-03 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-54527

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from insufficient security checks within Apple's operating systems that govern application access to user data. When an application requests access to sensitive data, the operating system should perform rigorous validation to ensure the request is legitimate and authorized. In this case, the validation mechanisms were inadequate, allowing malicious applications to circumvent these protections.

The local attack vector means an attacker would need to execute a malicious application on the target device. This could be accomplished through social engineering, convincing users to install trojanized applications, or exploiting other vulnerabilities to deploy malicious code. Once executed, the malicious application could access confidential information without triggering the expected security prompts or authorization checks.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-54527 lies in improper validation checks within Apple's data access control mechanisms. The vulnerability indicates that certain security boundaries were not being properly enforced, allowing applications to access protected user data that should have been restricted. Apple's fix involved implementing improved checks to ensure applications cannot bypass data access controls.

Attack Vector

The attack requires local access to the target device, meaning an attacker must be able to execute code on the system. This is typically achieved by:

1. Distributing a malicious application that appears legitimate
2. Tricking users into installing unsigned or sideloaded applications
3. Leveraging existing access to deploy malicious software

Once the malicious application is running on the device, it can exploit the insufficient checks to access sensitive user data. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond the initial application installation, and the attacker does not need elevated privileges to exploit it.

The vulnerability primarily impacts confidentiality, as the attacker can read sensitive data but cannot modify system files or cause denial of service conditions through this specific flaw.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-54527

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual application behavior requesting access to protected user data directories or containers
• Applications accessing data outside their designated sandbox without user authorization prompts
• Unexpected file access events in system logs targeting sensitive user data locations

Detection Strategies

• Monitor system logs for applications accessing sensitive data locations without corresponding user authorization events
• Implement endpoint detection rules to flag applications exhibiting anomalous data access patterns
• Review installed applications for unknown or untrusted sources, particularly sideloaded applications

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable unified logging on macOS systems and review log show output for suspicious data access events
• Configure SentinelOne to monitor for applications accessing protected directories such as ~/Library/ subdirectories
• Implement application allowlisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized software

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-54527

Immediate Actions Required

• Update all Apple devices to the latest operating system versions: macOS Sequoia 15.2, macOS Sonoma 14.7.2, macOS Ventura 13.7.2, iOS/iPadOS 18.2, watchOS 11.2, or tvOS 18.2
• Review installed applications and remove any untrusted or suspicious software
• Enable automatic updates to ensure timely application of future security patches
• Restrict installation of applications to the official App Store where possible

Patch Information

Apple has released patches addressing CVE-2024-54527 in the following security updates:

• Apple Support Advisory #121837 - watchOS 11.2
• Apple Support Advisory #121839 - tvOS 18.2
• Apple Support Advisory #121840 - macOS Sequoia 15.2
• Apple Support Advisory #121842 - iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2
• Apple Support Advisory #121843 - macOS Ventura 13.7.2
• Apple Support Advisory #121844 - macOS Sonoma 14.7.2

Workarounds

• Enable Gatekeeper on macOS to prevent execution of unverified applications: System Settings > Privacy & Security > Allow applications from App Store and identified developers
• Review and restrict application permissions in System Settings > Privacy & Security to limit data access
• Implement Mobile Device Management (MDM) profiles to enforce application restrictions on organizational devices

# Verify macOS version and check for available updates
sw_vers
softwareupdate -l

# Enable Gatekeeper (if disabled)
sudo spctl --master-enable

# List applications with Full Disk Access permissions
sqlite3 "/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC/TCC.db" "SELECT client FROM access WHERE service='kTCCServiceSystemPolicyAllFiles';"