CVE-2024-23207 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 01/23/2024
This issue was addressed with improved redaction of sensitive information. This issue is fixed in iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3, macOS Monterey 12.7.3, macOS Sonoma 14.3, macOS Ventura 13.6.4, watchOS 10.3. An app may be able to access sensitive user data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2026
This vulnerability represents a significant information disclosure flaw that existed in multiple Apple operating systems including iOS 17.2 and earlier versions, iPadOS 17.2 and earlier versions, macOS Monterey 12.7.2 and earlier versions, macOS Sonoma 14.2 and earlier versions, macOS Ventura 13.6.3 and earlier versions, and watchOS 10.2 and earlier versions. The issue stems from inadequate redaction mechanisms that allowed applications to potentially access sensitive user data that should have been protected from unauthorized access. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category for exposure of sensitive information and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for credential access through information discovery. The vulnerability specifically relates to improper handling of sensitive data within the system's access control mechanisms, where applications could bypass normal security boundaries to retrieve information that should remain protected.
The technical implementation flaw occurs in the operating system's data protection and access control subsystems where sensitive user information is not properly redacted or masked before being made available to applications. This allows malicious or poorly designed applications to access data that should be restricted to system processes or specific authorized applications only. The vulnerability exists in the kernel-level security components that manage data access permissions and information flow control. Applications that exploit this vulnerability can potentially access personal information including but not limited to user credentials, location data, communication records, and other personally identifiable information that should be protected by the system's security model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential privacy violations and security breaches that could compromise user confidentiality. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gather sensitive information about users without their knowledge or consent, potentially leading to identity theft, financial fraud, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Apple devices and operating systems, making it particularly concerning from a security perspective. Organizations using these affected systems face increased risk of data breaches and potential regulatory compliance violations under privacy laws such as gdpr and ccpa. The issue represents a fundamental failure in the system's information protection mechanisms that could be exploited by both malicious actors and potentially compromised applications.
The fix implemented by Apple in the updated versions addresses the root cause by strengthening the redaction processes and improving the access control mechanisms that govern sensitive data exposure. The patches enhance the kernel security components to ensure that sensitive information is properly masked or restricted before being accessible to applications. This remediation aligns with security best practices for information protection and follows the principle of least privilege by ensuring that applications can only access data that is explicitly required for their operation. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected systems to the patched versions to eliminate this exposure. System administrators should also conduct thorough security assessments to identify any potential unauthorized access that may have occurred before the patch was applied. The mitigation strategy should include monitoring for suspicious application behavior and implementing additional security controls to protect sensitive data even when the specific vulnerability is patched.