CVE-2024-54542 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2025
An authentication issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in Safari 18.2, iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, watchOS 11.2. Private Browsing tabs may be accessed without authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical authentication flaw in Apple's Safari browser and related operating systems that allows unauthorized access to private browsing sessions. The issue stems from inadequate state management during the authentication process, creating a window where users can bypass the required authentication mechanisms to access private browsing tabs. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Apple products including Safari 18.2, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, and watchOS 11.2, indicating a systemic issue within the authentication framework that spans multiple platform components.
The technical flaw manifests as a state management weakness that fails to properly validate user authentication status when transitioning between regular and private browsing modes. This allows malicious actors or unauthorized users to exploit the authentication flow by manipulating session states or timing attacks that occur during the transition process. The vulnerability specifically impacts private browsing tabs which are designed to provide enhanced privacy and security by preventing tracking and maintaining user confidentiality. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and potentially CWE-305 which covers authentication bypass through use of weak authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to encompass potential data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Private browsing sessions typically contain confidential data such as login credentials, personal communications, financial information, and other sensitive content that users expect to remain protected from unauthorized access. This flaw creates a persistent security risk where an attacker could gain access to previously private browsing sessions without proper authentication, potentially compromising user privacy and confidentiality. The vulnerability particularly affects users who rely on private browsing for sensitive activities such as online banking, healthcare communications, or business-related activities where privacy is paramount.
The fix implemented by Apple addresses the authentication issue through improved state management mechanisms that properly validate user authentication status before granting access to private browsing sessions. This includes enhanced session handling, better state validation checks, and strengthened authentication flows that prevent unauthorized access to private browsing tabs. Organizations should prioritize updating affected systems to Safari 18.2, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, and watchOS 11.2 to mitigate this vulnerability. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, specifically targeting the T1078 credential access sub-technique. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that authentication states are properly managed and that no additional bypass mechanisms remain in place. Security administrators should also implement monitoring for any suspicious access patterns to private browsing sessions that might indicate exploitation attempts.