CVE-2024-54500 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2, iPadOS 17.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.2, macOS Sonoma 14.7.2, macOS Ventura 13.7.2, tvOS 18.2, visionOS 2.2, watchOS 11.2. Processing a maliciously crafted image may result in disclosure of process memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-54500 represents a memory disclosure issue affecting multiple Apple operating systems including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. This flaw manifests when the affected systems process maliciously crafted image files, potentially exposing sensitive process memory contents to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues that can lead to information disclosure and privilege escalation attacks. Apple addressed this concern through enhanced input validation and processing checks within their image handling frameworks. The fix was implemented across multiple system versions with iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 receiving the primary update alongside older versions receiving patches through their respective maintenance releases. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses improper information exposure, and represents a classic example of how image processing libraries can become attack vectors for memory disclosure exploits. The technical nature of the flaw suggests that the image parsing code lacks adequate bounds checking or memory validation when handling malformed image data structures, potentially leading to buffer overflows or information leaks.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-54500 extends across Apple's entire ecosystem of devices and platforms, affecting everything from smartphones and tablets to desktop computers and specialized hardware like Apple Vision Pro devices. Attackers could potentially craft malicious image files designed to trigger the memory disclosure when processed by vulnerable systems, leading to exposure of sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or application memory contents. The vulnerability's presence in multiple operating system versions indicates that Apple's image processing stack has a fundamental flaw in its input validation mechanisms that affects a broad range of devices. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile environments where users frequently encounter images from untrusted sources through social media, email attachments, or web browsing activities. The memory disclosure could potentially enable attackers to reconstruct sensitive information or use the leaked data for further exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-54500 primarily involve immediate deployment of the patched system versions released by Apple. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected devices to the latest security patches, particularly those running iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, macOS Ventura 13.7.1, tvOS 18.1, visionOS 2.1, and watchOS 11.1. System administrators should implement automated patch management solutions to ensure timely deployment of security updates across enterprise environments. Additional protective measures include implementing network-based filtering for image files from untrusted sources, deploying sandboxing solutions for image processing applications, and conducting regular security assessments of image handling components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting languages and potentially T1557.001 for remote code execution through malicious file processing. Organizations should also consider implementing behavioral monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous memory access patterns or unusual image processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's resolution through enhanced checks demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in preventing information disclosure attacks.