CVE-2024-23220 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/08/2024
The issue was addressed with improved handling of caches. This issue is fixed in iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4, visionOS 1.1. An app may be able to fingerprint the user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-23220 represents a significant privacy concern in Apple's mobile operating systems where improper cache handling mechanisms could potentially enable malicious applications to fingerprint users. This issue specifically affects iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3, with the problem being resolved through enhanced cache management protocols in subsequent versions. The vulnerability stems from the way system caches are managed and accessed, creating potential avenues for applications to gather identifying information about device users that could be used for tracking purposes.
The technical flaw involves insufficient sanitization and management of cached data structures that applications may inadvertently access or manipulate. When applications interact with system caches, they may be able to observe or infer information about the device's operational state, user behavior patterns, or other identifying characteristics that persist across sessions. This cache-based fingerprinting capability allows for the creation of unique user profiles that can be used to track individuals across different applications and services, undermining the privacy protections that users expect from their mobile devices. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and specifically relates to information disclosure through cache mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to encompass broader security implications for user tracking and behavioral profiling. Attackers could exploit this weakness to create persistent identifiers that remain stable across application launches and device reboots, enabling sophisticated tracking mechanisms that bypass traditional privacy protections. The fingerprinting capability could be leveraged to build comprehensive user profiles that include browsing habits, application usage patterns, and potentially even location data. This vulnerability particularly affects the security model of mobile operating systems where applications operate in sandboxed environments but may still access shared resources through cache mechanisms.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2024-23220 requires users to update to iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, or visionOS 1.1 where Apple has implemented improved cache handling protocols. These updates address the root cause by introducing stricter cache isolation mechanisms and enhanced data sanitization procedures that prevent unauthorized access to sensitive cached information. Organizations should prioritize deployment of these updates across all affected devices and monitor for potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred before the patch was applied. The fix implements principles aligned with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which addresses credentials in files, by ensuring that cached information does not contain sensitive user identifiers that could be exploited for tracking purposes. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring to detect unusual cache access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining awareness of the potential for this vulnerability to be combined with other tracking mechanisms in more sophisticated attack scenarios.