CVE-2024-23257 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/08/2024
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 16.7.6 and iPadOS 16.7.6, macOS Monterey 12.7.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4, macOS Ventura 13.6.5, visionOS 1.1. Processing an image may result in disclosure of process memory.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2026
This vulnerability represents a memory safety issue that affects multiple Apple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS. The flaw manifests when processing certain image files, potentially leading to unauthorized disclosure of process memory contents. The vulnerability was addressed through enhanced memory handling mechanisms within the affected software versions. Security researchers identified that improper memory management during image processing operations created opportunities for attackers to extract sensitive information from running processes. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can enable various attack vectors including information disclosure and potentially privilege escalation. The remediation implemented by Apple focused on strengthening the memory allocation and deallocation procedures specifically during image processing workflows. The affected versions include iOS 16.7.6 and iPadOS 16.7.6, macOS Monterey 12.7.4, macOS Sonoma 14.4, macOS Ventura 13.6.5, and visionOS 1.1, indicating this is a cross-platform issue affecting Apple's ecosystem. The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common weaknesses in memory safety as classified by CWE-129, which deals with improper handling of memory allocations. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors who craft specially crafted image files designed to trigger the memory disclosure condition. The impact extends beyond simple information leakage as process memory often contains sensitive data such as encryption keys, user credentials, or application state information. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain insights into running applications and potentially identify additional attack surfaces within the system. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which involves the use of dynamic code injection and memory manipulation to access system resources. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture assessment, particularly in environments where image processing is common or where sensitive data might be processed. The memory handling improvements implemented by Apple address the root cause of the issue by ensuring proper bounds checking and memory validation during image processing operations. This vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in maintaining memory safety in complex operating systems where multimedia processing creates numerous potential attack vectors. The remediation approach taken by Apple reflects industry best practices for addressing memory safety issues through enhanced input validation and robust memory management routines.
The vulnerability specifically impacts image processing workflows where the system fails to properly validate memory boundaries during image decoding operations. When an attacker supplies a malformed image file, the system's memory handling routines may not properly check array bounds or validate memory allocations, leading to information disclosure. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because image files are commonly encountered in user environments and can be easily delivered through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or file transfers. The memory disclosure aspect means that sensitive information could be exposed to unauthorized parties, potentially including cryptographic keys, user session data, or application-specific memory contents. From a compliance standpoint, this vulnerability could impact organizations that must maintain strict data protection standards, as the exposure of process memory could lead to regulatory violations or security breaches. The fix implemented by Apple involved strengthening the memory management subsystem specifically for image processing components, ensuring that all memory allocations are properly validated before being used. This approach follows established security principles that emphasize defense in depth and proper input validation. The vulnerability's classification under memory safety issues makes it particularly relevant to security frameworks that emphasize secure coding practices and memory management. Organizations should prioritize updating their systems to the patched versions to mitigate potential exploitation risks, especially in environments where image processing is a common activity or where sensitive data processing occurs. The remediation addresses not only the immediate memory disclosure issue but also strengthens the overall security posture by improving the robustness of the system's memory handling mechanisms.