The CVE-2024-54658 vulnerability was discovered in several Apple products, specifically iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4, Safari 17.4, tvOS 17.4, watchOS 10.4, visionOS 1.1, and macOS Sonoma 14.4. As a result, processing web content may lead to a denial-of-service attack. To mitigate this vulnerability, Apple has implemented improved memory handling in affected products. This long read post will delve into the vulnerability details, provide code snippets for better understanding, and give links to original references for further exploration.

Vulnerability Description

The CVE-2024-54658 vulnerability arises from the improper handling of memory in several Apple products that process web content. This issue can lead to a denial-of-service (DoS) attack, where an attacker can cause the affected system or service to be unavailable to users. To remedy this issue, Apple has rolled out improved memory handling in affected software versions.

Code Snippet

The following code snippet demonstrates a basic example of a memory leak in JavaScript, which could contribute to a DoS attack:

function createMemoryLeak() {
    const array = [];

    setInterval(() => {
        const unusedObj = { key: 'Some information...' };
        array.push(unusedObj);
    }, 100);
}

createMemoryLeak();

In this code example, the createMemoryLeak() function creates an array and continuously pushes objects containing unnecessary data into the array. This causes an accumulation of unused data in the memory, eventually rendering the script non-functional due to the constant DoS imposed on the system.

Solution

Apple recognized the vulnerability in their products and released improved memory handling to address the issue. The mitigation involves thorough memory management techniques that prevent memory leaks and reduce the chances of potential DoS attacks. Users are urged to update their software to the latest version that includes these fixes.

Original References and Resources

1. Apple - About the security content of iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 [Link]
2. Apple - About the security content of Safari 17.4 [Link]
3. Apple - About the security content of tvOS 17.4 [Link]
4. Apple - About the security content of watchOS 10.4 [Link]
5. Apple - About the security content of macOS Sonoma 14.4 [Link]
6. MITRE - CVE-2024-54658 [Link]

Conclusion

It is crucial for users and developers to stay informed about security vulnerabilities and update their software as necessary. Implementing proper memory management can help protect systems from potential threats like those arising from CVE-2024-54658. By keeping software up-to-date and using responsible coding practices, we can minimize the impact of vulnerabilities and contribute to a safer and more reliable digital environment.

Timeline

Published on: 02/10/2025 19:15:39 UTC
Last modified on: 03/03/2025 16:52:20 UTC