iOS and iPadOS: Use After Free
CVE-2024-44285 is a high-severity use after free 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 18.1 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 0.66% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 52% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update iOS and iPadOS to 18.1 or a later version.
- Update macOS to 15.1 or a later version.
- Update tvOS to 18.1 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on support.apple.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | iOS and iPadOS | before 18.1 | 18.1 |
| Apple | macOS | before 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Apple | tvOS | before 18.1 | 18.1 |
| Apple | visionOS | before 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Apple | watchOS | before 11.1 | 11.1 |
| Apple | iphone_os | before 18.1 | 18.1 |
| Apple | ipados | before 18.1 | 18.1 |
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 system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.4 | High | CISA (ADP) |
Official description
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1, tvOS 18.1, visionOS 2.1, watchOS 11.1. An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use After Free
The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory belongs to the code that operates on the new pointer.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
- When freeing pointers, be sure to set them to NULL once they are freed. However, the utilization of multiple or complex data structures may lower the usefulness of this strategy.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
- support.apple.com/en-us/121563Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/121565Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/121566Release Notes
- support.apple.com/en-us/121569Release Notes
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in iOS and iPadOS
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.0 High severity
- 7.0 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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