CVE-2024-54505 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2024
A type confusion issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in Safari 18.2, iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2, iPadOS 17.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.2, tvOS 18.2, visionOS 2.2, watchOS 11.2. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to memory corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-54505 represents a type confusion issue that affects Apple's web browser Safari and related operating systems. This flaw stems from inadequate memory handling mechanisms that fail to properly distinguish between different data types during runtime operations. The issue manifests when Safari processes maliciously crafted web content that exploits the underlying memory management system to execute unauthorized operations. Type confusion vulnerabilities occur when a program incorrectly handles data types, leading to situations where memory allocated for one type is accessed as another type, creating potential pathways for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-466 category of "Use of Size Value After Dynamic Allocation" and represents a critical memory safety issue that can be exploited through web-based attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves Safari's JavaScript engine and WebKit rendering components that handle dynamic memory allocation for web content. When processing malformed web pages containing crafted JavaScript or HTML elements, the browser's memory management system fails to properly validate type information during object creation or manipulation. This misconfiguration allows attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute malicious code with the privileges of the browser process. The flaw specifically affects the interaction between different memory management routines and type checking mechanisms, where insufficient bounds checking permits memory corruption that can be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with memory corruption issues that align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-54505 extends across multiple Apple platforms including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS, making it a widespread concern for organizations relying on Apple ecosystems. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through drive-by downloads, malicious websites, or compromised web applications without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious page. The memory corruption resulting from this type confusion can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor installation. Organizations using affected Apple devices face significant risk as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without user knowledge, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where Apple devices are prevalent. The affected versions span multiple operating system releases, indicating this vulnerability has been present across several platform iterations and requires immediate patch management across all supported versions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-54505 should prioritize immediate deployment of available security updates from Apple, specifically targeting Safari 18.2 and the corresponding operating system versions mentioned in the advisory. System administrators should implement network-level protections including web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify potentially affected systems and implement monitoring for suspicious network activity or unauthorized access attempts. Additional defensive measures include enabling sandboxing features within Safari, restricting web content execution, and implementing user education programs to reduce exposure to malicious web content. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing layered defense strategies to protect against memory corruption exploits that target browser components and operating system frameworks.