watchOS 10.4 Security Update

What watchOS 10.4 Fixes

watchOS 10.4, released March 7, 2024, fixes 26 vulnerabilities in 15 parts of the system, according to Apple's security advisory.

Apple says 2 of these flaws — CVE-2024-23225, CVE-2024-23296 — may already have been exploited. That makes watchOS 10.4 an update to install now rather than at the weekend.

It has since been superseded: the newest security release for watchOS 10 is watchOS 10.6, from July 29, 2024, which includes these fixes.

Grouped by us from the impact Apple gives for each fix; the impact lines below are Apple's own.

Exploited Before the Fix

Apple flags a fix as possibly exploited when it has a credible report that the flaw was used against real people before the patch. These are the reason to update today.

• Kernel Exploited

  An attacker with arbitrary kernel read and write capability may be able to bypass kernel memory protections. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited.

  A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved validation.

  CVE-2024-23225

• RTKit Exploited

  An attacker with arbitrary kernel read and write capability may be able to bypass kernel memory protections. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited.

  A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved validation.

  CVE-2024-23296

Which Devices Get watchOS 10.4

Apple lists watchOS 10.4 for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later.

How to Install watchOS 10.4

Open the Watch app on the paired iPhone, then General → Software Update. The watch needs to be on its charger and within range of the iPhone.

Security fixes are cumulative: any later release for the same version includes these as well, so if you are already past watchOS 10.4 there is nothing to do.

Every Fix in watchOS 10.4

The rest of Apple's advisory — every fix not already listed above, the most serious kinds first. Each entry is the part of the system affected, Apple's description of the impact and the fix, and the CVE ID.

• ImageIO

  Processing an image may lead to arbitrary code execution

  A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2024-23286

• libxpc

  An app may be able to execute arbitrary code out of its sandbox or with certain elevated privileges

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2024-0258

• WebKit

  Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2024-23226 CVE-2024-27859

• AppleMobileFileIntegrity

  An app may be able to elevate privileges

  This issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code.

  CVE-2024-23288

• Kernel

  An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or write kernel memory

  A memory corruption vulnerability was addressed with improved locking.

  CVE-2024-23265

• libxpc

  An app may be able to break out of its sandbox

  The issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-23278

• UIKit

  An app may be able to break out of its sandbox

  This issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code.

  CVE-2024-23246

• Accessibility

  A malicious app may be able to observe user data in log entries related to accessibility notifications

  A privacy issue was addressed with improved private data redaction for log entries.

  CVE-2024-23291

• Kernel

  An app may be able to access user-sensitive data

  A race condition was addressed with additional validation.

  CVE-2024-23235

• MediaRemote

  A malicious application may be able to access private information

  The issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-23297

• Messages

  An app may be able to access user-sensitive data

  A privacy issue was addressed with improved handling of temporary files.

  CVE-2024-23287

• Sandbox

  An app may be able to leak sensitive user information

  A race condition was addressed with improved state handling.

  CVE-2024-23239

• Sandbox

  An app may be able to access user-sensitive data

  A logic issue was addressed with improved restrictions.

  CVE-2024-23290

• Share Sheet

  An app may be able to access user-sensitive data

  A privacy issue was addressed with improved private data redaction for log entries.

  CVE-2024-23231

• Siri

  A person with physical access to a device may be able to use Siri to access private calendar information

  A lock screen issue was addressed with improved state management.

  CVE-2024-23289

• Siri

  An attacker with physical access may be able to use Siri to access sensitive user data

  This issue was addressed through improved state management.

  CVE-2024-23293

• WebKit

  A malicious website may exfiltrate audio data cross-origin

  The issue was addressed with improved UI handling.

  CVE-2024-23254

• file

  Processing a file may lead to a denial-of-service or potentially disclose memory contents

  This issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2022-48554

• WebKit

  Processing web content may lead to a denial-of-service

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2024-54658

• CoreBluetooth - LE

  An app may be able to access Bluetooth-connected microphones without user permission

  An access issue was addressed with improved access restrictions.

  CVE-2024-23250

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may prevent Content Security Policy from being enforced

  A logic issue was addressed with improved validation.

  CVE-2024-23263

• WebKit

  A maliciously crafted webpage may be able to fingerprint the user

  An injection issue was addressed with improved validation.

  CVE-2024-23280

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may prevent Content Security Policy from being enforced

  A logic issue was addressed with improved state management.

  CVE-2024-23284

watchOS 10 Security Release History

watchOS 10.4 in context: the security releases Apple has published for watchOS 10, newest first, with the number of fixes each carried.

The Same Fixes Elsewhere

Apple ships most fixes to every platform that shares the code, and to older versions still under support. These releases close at least one of the same CVEs:

Frequently Asked Questions