CVE-2024-40798 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2024
This issue was addressed with improved redaction of sensitive information. This issue is fixed in iOS 16.7.9 and iPadOS 16.7.9, macOS Monterey 12.7.6, macOS Sonoma 14.6, macOS Ventura 13.6.8. An app may be able to read Safari's browsing history.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2026
This vulnerability represents a significant information disclosure flaw in Apple's Safari web browser that could potentially allow malicious applications to access sensitive user browsing data. The issue stems from inadequate redaction mechanisms within the browser's data handling processes, creating a pathway for unauthorized data access. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple operating systems including iOS 16.7.8 and earlier versions, iPadOS 16.7.8 and earlier versions, macOS Monterey 12.7.5 and earlier versions, macOS Sonoma 14.5 and earlier versions, and macOS Ventura 13.6.7 and earlier versions. The security flaw manifests when applications can bypass normal access controls to read Safari's browsing history, which constitutes a serious privacy and security concern.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a weakness in how Safari manages sensitive information within its data structures and access controls. Specifically, the redaction mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized access to browsing history data are insufficiently robust, allowing applications with appropriate privileges to potentially extract this information. This issue falls under the category of improper access control and information exposure, which aligns with CWE-284 for improper access control and CWE-200 for information exposure. The vulnerability represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, where applications should not have access to browsing history data unless explicitly authorized. The flaw likely occurs during the data retrieval or sharing processes where sensitive information should be properly sanitized but isn't.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to encompass potential security risks for users who rely on Safari for sensitive browsing activities. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain insights into user behavior patterns, access to sensitive websites, or potentially discover information about user activities that could be leveraged for social engineering attacks or further exploitation. The vulnerability affects all Apple devices running the affected operating systems, creating a widespread security concern across the Apple ecosystem. Organizations using Apple devices for business purposes could face increased risk of data breaches or privacy violations when employees access sensitive corporate information through Safari. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where browsing history might contain confidential business information or personal data.
Apple's response to this vulnerability included addressing the issue in multiple operating system versions, with specific fixes released for iOS 16.7.9 and iPadOS 16.7.9, macOS Monterey 12.7.6, macOS Sonoma 14.6, and macOS Ventura 13.6.8. The remediation focuses on improved redaction of sensitive information, which directly addresses the root cause of the vulnerability. Security researchers and organizations should prioritize updating affected systems to the latest versions to mitigate this risk. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper information sanitization and access control mechanisms in web browsers, particularly in environments where sensitive data handling is critical. Organizations should conduct security assessments to ensure all affected systems are updated and implement monitoring for any suspicious access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for credential access through social engineering, though the primary technique would be T1070.004 for indicator removal or T1003.008 for credential dumping if exploitation leads to more comprehensive data access. The vulnerability also relates to T1190 for exploit for client execution and T1557.001 for local network configuration and information discovery. The fix implemented by Apple represents a defensive measure against information disclosure attacks and should be considered alongside other security controls in a comprehensive defense-in-depth strategy. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and access control measures to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain awareness of similar vulnerabilities in other browser components or operating system services.