CVE-2024-27821 in watchOS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/14/2024
A path handling issue was addressed with improved validation. This issue is fixed in iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5, watchOS 10.5. A shortcut may output sensitive user data without consent.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-27821 represents a critical path handling flaw that affects multiple Apple operating systems including iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5, and watchOS 10.5. This security weakness stems from inadequate validation mechanisms within the system's path processing functionality, creating potential avenues for unauthorized data exposure. The issue manifests when shortcuts within the operating system fail to properly validate file paths, potentially allowing malicious actors to access sensitive user information through crafted shortcut workflows.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. The flaw occurs during the shortcut execution process where the system does not sufficiently validate user-provided paths before processing them, enabling potential exploitation through specially crafted file paths that could bypass normal access controls. This weakness specifically impacts the operating system's file handling mechanisms and shortcut execution environment, creating opportunities for data leakage without explicit user consent.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to user privacy and data security across all affected Apple platforms. The unauthorized output of sensitive user data through shortcuts represents a serious breach of user trust and could potentially expose personal information, system credentials, or confidential files. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to create malicious shortcuts that silently extract and transmit user data to remote servers, making the attack vector particularly insidious due to its ability to operate without direct user interaction or awareness.
The remediation for CVE-2024-27821 involves implementing enhanced path validation mechanisms within the operating system's shortcut processing framework. Apple's patch addresses the issue by strengthening input validation procedures and ensuring proper path sanitization before any file operations occur. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the affected system updates to mitigate potential exploitation. Security teams should also conduct thorough monitoring for any anomalous shortcut behavior or unexpected data flows that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability.
This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in operating system components and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage, where attackers might leverage shortcut functionality to execute malicious code or extract sensitive information. The security implications extend beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential privilege escalation scenarios where attackers could use the path handling flaw to gain deeper system access. Organizations should review their endpoint security policies to ensure proper monitoring of shortcut execution and file access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.
The fix implemented by Apple represents a defensive programming approach that validates all user-provided paths against established security policies before any file system operations occur. This aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, emphasizing the need for input validation and privilege separation in system design. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices in operating system development and highlights the potential consequences of insufficient path validation in system-level components.