CVE-2024-54543 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2025
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in Safari 18.2, iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2, iPadOS 17.7.6, 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
This vulnerability represents a memory corruption issue that affects Apple's web browser and operating systems, specifically identified as CVE-2024-54543. The flaw manifests when Safari processes maliciously crafted web content, potentially leading to unauthorized memory access patterns that could be exploited by attackers. The vulnerability was addressed through enhanced memory handling mechanisms within Apple's software ecosystem, with fixes rolled out across multiple platform versions including Safari 18.2, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, tvOS 18.2, visionOS 2.2, and watchOS 11.2. The memory corruption vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues that are commonly associated with buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management flaws. These types of vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous as they can potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common weaknesses enumerated in the CWE database, specifically relating to memory safety issues and improper memory management. The flaw represents a classic example of how web browsers must carefully handle memory allocation and deallocation when processing untrusted content from the internet. When Safari encounters malicious web content, the improper memory handling can result in corrupted memory segments that may be leveraged for exploitation. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in browser environments where users frequently interact with untrusted web content, making the attack surface quite broad. The remediation approach taken by Apple involved strengthening the memory management routines within the browser engine to prevent the corruption patterns that could be triggered by malicious inputs.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users who may inadvertently encounter malicious web content while browsing. The impact extends across all Apple devices that utilize the affected software versions, creating a widespread potential attack vector. Attackers could craft web pages specifically designed to trigger the memory corruption when loaded in Safari, potentially leading to complete system compromise or data exfiltration. The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction through web browsing, making it a prime target for phishing campaigns or malicious websites. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of their ongoing monitoring efforts, particularly in environments where Apple devices are prevalent and where web-based attacks are a known threat vector. The fix implementation across multiple operating system versions demonstrates Apple's coordinated approach to patch management and vulnerability remediation.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability primarily involves immediate deployment of the updated software versions across all affected Apple devices. Organizations should prioritize updating Safari and their respective operating systems to prevent exploitation. System administrators should implement automated patch management solutions to ensure timely deployment of security updates. Additionally, users should be educated about the importance of keeping their devices updated and should avoid visiting untrusted websites or downloading content from unknown sources. Security teams should monitor for any reported exploitation attempts or related vulnerabilities that may be connected to this memory corruption issue. The remediation process should include verification of successful patch deployment through inventory management systems and vulnerability scanning tools to confirm that all affected devices have received the necessary updates. This vulnerability highlights the ongoing need for robust memory safety mechanisms in web browsers and operating systems, particularly as attackers continue to develop sophisticated techniques for exploiting memory management flaws in modern software environments.