CVE-2024-23229 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/14/2024
This issue was addressed with improved redaction of sensitive information. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.4, macOS Ventura 13.6.5. A malicious application may be able to access Find My data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2026
This vulnerability represents a significant information disclosure flaw in apple's operating systems that could potentially allow malicious applications to access sensitive find my data. The issue stems from inadequate redaction mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or remove sensitive information from system outputs or data processing streams. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of macos including monterey 12.7.5, sonoma 14.4, and ventura 13.6.5, indicating a widespread exposure across apple's operating system ecosystem. The find my service is a core component of apple's ecosystem that provides location tracking and device management capabilities, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to exploit information disclosure vulnerabilities. The flaw essentially creates a pathway for unauthorized access to location data, device identifiers, and other sensitive information that users rely on for privacy and security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability likely involves insufficient input validation or output sanitization within the find my service components. When applications interact with find my data, proper redaction mechanisms should ensure that sensitive information is stripped or masked before being exposed to other processes or applications. However, the vulnerability demonstrates that these protective measures are inadequate, allowing malicious applications to potentially intercept or access data that should remain protected. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of information exposure flaws that can be classified as cwe-200 - information exposure and potentially cwe-532 - information exposure through log files or cwe-20 - improper input validation. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that find my data contains personal location information, device identifiers, and potentially user-associated metadata that could be leveraged for various malicious activities including tracking, identity theft, or targeted attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions users place in apple's privacy protections. Users who rely on find my service for device recovery and location tracking may unknowingly expose sensitive information to potentially malicious applications that have gained access to their system. This could lead to unauthorized tracking of devices, compromise of personal location data, and potential escalation to more serious privacy violations. The vulnerability also affects the trust model between apple and its users, as it suggests that even core privacy features may be susceptible to information disclosure attacks. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact vector for gaining unauthorized access to sensitive user data, particularly in environments where users may inadvertently install malicious applications or where applications have elevated privileges. The vulnerability's presence in multiple macos versions indicates that it was likely introduced through a common codebase or shared implementation pattern that affects the entire apple ecosystem.
Apple's patch resolution addresses the vulnerability through improved redaction mechanisms that ensure sensitive information is properly sanitized before being exposed to applications or system processes. The updates to monterey 12.7.5, sonoma 14.4, and ventura 13.6.5 incorporate enhanced sanitization routines that properly handle find my data access and prevent unauthorized exposure. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these updates across all affected macos systems to remediate the vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious application behavior that might attempt to access find my data through alternative means. The remediation aligns with best practices for information security and privacy protection, emphasizing the importance of proper data sanitization and access controls. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a specific instance of broader information disclosure patterns that could potentially affect other apple services or components that handle sensitive user data. The fix demonstrates apple's commitment to addressing privacy concerns through improved data handling mechanisms and proper redaction protocols that align with industry standards for protecting user information.