CVE-2024-23246 in watchOS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/08/2024
This issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code. This issue is fixed in iOS 16.7.6 and iPadOS 16.7.6, iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4, tvOS 17.4, visionOS 1.1, watchOS 10.4. An app may be able to break out of its sandbox.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2026
This vulnerability represents a sandbox escape flaw that allows malicious applications to bypass system security boundaries and access resources outside their designated execution environment. The issue was identified within Apple's operating systems where proper isolation mechanisms between applications and system components had been compromised. The vulnerability affects multiple platforms including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS, indicating a widespread concern in Apple's security architecture. Such sandbox escape vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they undermine fundamental security principles that protect users from malicious software and unauthorized system access. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation or improper handling of system calls and resource access permissions that should normally be restricted to prevent cross-application interference.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability likely involves a flaw in the operating system's privilege separation mechanisms or kernel-level access controls that govern how applications interact with system resources. When an application attempts to access restricted resources or execute privileged operations, the system's security checks should prevent such actions and maintain proper isolation between applications. However, in this case, the vulnerable code allowed applications to exploit specific conditions or sequences that bypassed these protective measures. The removal of vulnerable code represents a corrective action that addresses the root cause by eliminating the flawed implementation that enabled unauthorized access to system resources. This type of vulnerability aligns with common security weaknesses such as those classified under CWE-276, which deals with incorrect access control, and may also relate to improper privilege management scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application-level compromise to potentially enable broader system exploitation and data access. An attacker could leverage this sandbox escape to access sensitive user data, system files, or other applications' data without proper authorization. The implications are particularly severe for mobile and desktop environments where users store personal information, financial data, and confidential communications. The vulnerability could be exploited through malicious applications downloaded from official app stores or through social engineering tactics that trick users into installing compromised software. Attackers might use this capability to monitor user activities, steal credentials, access personal documents, or even escalate privileges to gain root access to affected systems. This type of vulnerability is categorized under ATT&CK technique T1497 which involves virtualization and container abuse, and T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage to maintain persistence.
The remediation approach taken by Apple involved complete code removal rather than patching, indicating that the vulnerability was in core system components that could not be effectively fixed without disrupting the underlying architecture. This approach aligns with security best practices when dealing with fundamental architectural flaws that affect system integrity and user security. The affected versions span multiple operating system releases, demonstrating that Apple recognizes the severity of the issue and has implemented comprehensive fixes across all impacted platforms. Users must update to the specified versions to protect their systems, as the vulnerability remains exploitable in older releases. The update process should be prioritized immediately, as the window of opportunity for exploitation exists until all affected systems are patched. Security administrators should monitor deployment progress and ensure that all endpoints are updated to prevent potential compromise. The vulnerability's resolution through code removal rather than modification indicates that the flaw was in security-critical components that required complete architectural reassessment rather than incremental fixes. This approach, while more disruptive, provides a more reliable solution by eliminating the root cause rather than attempting to patch around it, which is often less effective against complex sandbox escape vulnerabilities.