CVE-2023-34352 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/06/2023
A permissions issue was addressed with improved redaction of sensitive information. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.4, tvOS 16.5, iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5, watchOS 9.5. An attacker may be able to leak user account emails.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical permissions flaw in Apple's operating systems that allowed unauthorized access to user account information through improper redaction of sensitive data. The issue specifically affected macOS Ventura 13.4, tvOS 16.5, iOS 16.5, iPadOS 16.5, and watchOS 9.5, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure, where sensitive user data was not properly protected during display or transmission processes, creating potential exposure pathways for user account emails.
The technical implementation of this flaw likely involved insufficient sanitization or redaction mechanisms within the operating system's user interface components or data handling processes. When system elements displayed user information, the redaction process failed to adequately obscure sensitive account details, potentially leaving email addresses accessible to unauthorized parties. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure" and represents a fundamental breakdown in information protection controls. The flaw essentially created a data leakage vector where user account information could be harvested through improper access controls or insufficient data sanitization routines.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential stuffing, targeted phishing campaigns, or social engineering operations. Attackers could leverage the leaked email addresses to conduct mass account enumeration, leading to account takeover attempts or to build targeted attack profiles. The exposure of user email addresses creates a significant risk for users, particularly in environments where email addresses serve as primary identifiers for account recovery processes or authentication systems. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and data minimization, as users' sensitive account information was unnecessarily exposed through the system's interface rendering mechanisms.
Apple's resolution of this issue through the mentioned software updates demonstrates the importance of proper data handling practices in operating system design. The fix likely involved enhanced redaction algorithms, improved access controls for sensitive data display, or more robust sanitization processes within the system's user interface components. Organizations should prioritize updating to the affected versions to mitigate the risk of exposure and ensure proper data protection. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of implementing comprehensive information protection measures throughout system development cycles, particularly in areas where user data is displayed or transmitted. This type of flaw also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers "Phishing" and related social engineering techniques that can be enabled by information disclosure vulnerabilities.