CVE-2024-23300 in GarageBand
Summary
by MITRE • 03/12/2024
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in GarageBand 10.4.11. Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to unexpected app termination or arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-23300 represents a critical use-after-free condition within Apple's GarageBand application that has been resolved through enhanced memory management protocols. This type of memory corruption flaw occurs when an application continues to reference memory locations that have already been freed or deallocated, creating potential entry points for malicious actors to exploit. The vulnerability specifically manifests when GarageBand processes maliciously crafted files that trigger improper memory handling during the parsing or rendering operations.
From a technical perspective the use-after-free vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory conditions that can result in unpredictable behavior and potential code execution. The flaw operates at the intersection of memory management and application security where improper memory deallocation combined with subsequent memory access creates a dangerous state. When GarageBand encounters a specially crafted file, the application's internal memory management routines fail to properly track memory allocation states, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the running application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized code execution. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the GarageBand process, potentially leading to full system compromise depending on the privilege level of the application. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the user to open or process a maliciously crafted file, making it a typical targeted attack vector that leverages social engineering or file delivery mechanisms. This type of attack aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers can execute malicious code through compromised applications.
The security implications of CVE-2024-23300 demonstrate the critical importance of proper memory management in multimedia applications that process external content. Audio and video editing software like GarageBand often parse complex file formats that require extensive memory handling and can become vulnerable to memory corruption attacks when not properly validated. The fix implemented in GarageBand 10.4.11 addresses the root cause by strengthening memory allocation and deallocation routines, ensuring that freed memory locations are properly tracked and that subsequent access attempts are properly validated. This remediation approach follows established security best practices for preventing use-after-free vulnerabilities and aligns with industry standards for secure coding practices.
Organizations and users should prioritize updating to GarageBand 10.4.11 or later versions to mitigate this vulnerability effectively. The update addresses the memory management deficiencies that allowed attackers to exploit the use-after-free condition, restoring proper memory tracking and preventing unauthorized code execution. Security teams should also consider implementing additional safeguards such as application whitelisting, file validation procedures, and monitoring for unusual application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for robust memory safety mechanisms in applications that process external content, particularly in creative software environments where users frequently interact with third-party files and media content.