CVE-2024-40790 in visionOS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2024
The issue was addressed with improved handling of caches. This issue is fixed in visionOS 2. An app may be able to read sensitive data from the GPU memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-40790 represents a critical security flaw in visionOS 2 that stems from inadequate cache management within the graphics processing unit memory subsystem. This issue specifically affects applications running on visionOS 2 and creates a potential pathway for unauthorized data access through GPU memory regions. The vulnerability arises from insufficient safeguards in how cached data is managed and isolated within the GPU memory space, allowing for potential information disclosure attacks.
The technical flaw manifests through improper cache handling mechanisms that fail to adequately separate sensitive data from regular processing operations within the GPU memory hierarchy. When applications process data through GPU compute units, the cache subsystem does not properly enforce memory access controls, creating opportunities for malicious code to intercept or read cached data that should remain confidential. This vulnerability falls under the category of cache side-channel attacks where the attacker exploits the inherent characteristics of cache memory to extract sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can potentially enable sophisticated attacks that leverage GPU memory access patterns to reconstruct sensitive information. Applications running on affected systems may unknowingly expose confidential data including user credentials, personal information, or proprietary code that resides in GPU memory caches. The risk is particularly concerning for applications that process sensitive data in parallel computing environments where GPU memory access patterns can reveal information about the underlying data structures and processing operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of visionOS 2 updates that address the cache handling mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of GPU memory access patterns and establish strict isolation policies for sensitive data processing. The fix involves enhanced cache invalidation procedures and improved memory access controls that prevent unauthorized read operations from GPU memory caches. This remediation aligns with industry standards such as CWE-200 for exposure of sensitive information and follows ATT&CK techniques related to credential access through memory dumps and cache poisoning attacks. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls including GPU memory encryption and access logging to detect potential exploitation attempts.