CVE-2024-44240
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to disclose process memory by tricking a user into processing a maliciously crafted font file. It affects Apple devices running vulnerable versions of iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS. The risk primarily impacts users who open untrusted font files.
💻 Affected Systems
- iOS
- iPadOS
- tvOS
- macOS
- watchOS
- visionOS
📦 What is this software?
Ipados by Apple
Ipados by Apple
Macos by Apple
macOS is Apple's desktop and laptop operating system powering Mac computers used by millions of professionals, developers, creative professionals, and enterprise users worldwide. Built on a Unix foundation with the Darwin kernel and modern Cocoa frameworks, macOS delivers a seamless ecosystem integr...
Learn more about Macos →Macos by Apple
macOS is Apple's desktop and laptop operating system powering Mac computers used by millions of professionals, developers, creative professionals, and enterprise users worldwide. Built on a Unix foundation with the Darwin kernel and modern Cocoa frameworks, macOS delivers a seamless ecosystem integr...
Learn more about Macos →Tvos by Apple
Watchos by Apple
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An attacker could leak sensitive information from process memory, potentially exposing credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential data.
Likely Case
Limited information disclosure from font processing applications, potentially revealing some memory contents but not full system compromise.
If Mitigated
With proper patching, no impact as the vulnerability is fixed. Without patching, risk is limited to users who process untrusted font files.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction to process malicious font file. No public exploit code is known at this time.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: tvOS 18.1, iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, iOS 17.7.1, iPadOS 17.7.1, macOS Ventura 13.7.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.1, watchOS 11.1, visionOS 2.1
Vendor Advisory: https://support.apple.com/en-us/121563
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Go to Settings > General > Software Update on iOS/iPadOS/tvOS/watchOS/visionOS. 2. Install the latest available update. 3. For macOS, go to System Settings > General > Software Update. 4. Install the latest security update. 5. Restart the device after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Font Processing
allBlock processing of untrusted font files by users and applications
User Education
allTrain users not to open font files from untrusted sources
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application whitelisting to prevent execution of font processing tools from untrusted locations
- Use email and web filtering to block font file attachments and downloads
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check current OS version against patched versions listed in affected_systems.versionsCheck Version:
iOS/iPadOS/tvOS/watchOS/visionOS: Settings > General > About > Version. macOS: Apple menu > About This Mac > macOS versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify OS version matches or exceeds patched versions listed in fix_official.patch_version📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual font file processing activity
- Application crashes related to font parsing
Network Indicators:
- Downloads of font files from untrusted sources
SIEM Query:
Search for file extensions: .ttf, .otf, .fon, .fnt from external sources OR application logs showing font processing errors🔗 References
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/121563
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/121565
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/121566
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/121567
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/121568
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/121569
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/121570
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Oct/10
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Oct/11
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Oct/12
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Oct/13
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Oct/15
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Oct/16
