CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2024-23288NVD status: Modified

iOS and iPadOS: Incorrect Privilege Assignment

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2024-23288 is a high-severity incorrect privilege assignment vulnerability in iOS and iPadOS from Apple, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists version 17.4 as the first without the flaw, so updating iOS and iPadOS to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.27% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update iOS and iPadOS to 17.4 or a later version.
  2. Update macOS to 14.4 or a later version.
  3. Update tvOS to 17.4 or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on support.apple.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
AppleiOS and iPadOSbefore 17.417.4
ApplemacOSbefore 14.414.4
AppletvOSbefore 17.417.4
ApplewatchOSbefore 10.410.4
Appleiphone_osbefore 17.417.4
Appleipad_osbefore 17.417.4
AppleiPadOSbefore 17.417.4

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.8HighNVD
CVSS 3.18.4HighCISA (ADP)

Official description

This issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code. This issue is fixed in iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4, tvOS 17.4, watchOS 10.4. An app may be able to elevate privileges.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Incorrect Privilege Assignment

A product incorrectly assigns a privilege to a particular actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
  • Run your code using the lowest privileges that are required to accomplish the necessary tasks. If possible, create isolated accounts with limited privileges that are only used for a single task. That way, a successful attack will not immediately give the attacker access to the rest of the software or its environment. For example, database applications rarely need to run as the database administrator, especially in day-to-day operations.

More Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerabilities (CWE-266)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in iOS and iPadOS

All iOS and iPadOS vulnerabilities

Recent Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerabilities

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