Sensitive data disclosure via Expand URL permission bypass
Published Jan 23, 2024 · Updated Apr 2, 2026
Permission bypass in Shortcuts on affected Apple operating systems allows attackers to disclose sensitive data through a crafted workflow. The Expand URL action lets com.apple.WorkflowKit.BackgroundShortcutRunner base64-encode Photos, Contacts, Files, or Clipboard content and send it to an attacker-controlled server without the TCC prompt. Exploitation requires a malicious shortcut to be installed; affected branches precede iOS and iPadOS 16.7.6 or 17.3, macOS 12.7.4, 13.6.5, or 14.3, and watchOS 10.3.
Summary
What happened
Permission bypass in Shortcuts on affected Apple operating systems allows attackers to disclose sensitive data through a crafted workflow. The Expand URL action lets com.apple.WorkflowKit.BackgroundShortcutRunner base64-encode Photos, Contacts, Files, or Clipboard content and send it to an attacker-controlled server without the TCC prompt. Exploitation requires a malicious shortcut to be installed; affected branches precede iOS and iPadOS 16.7.6 or 17.3, macOS 12.7.4, 13.6.5, or 14.3, and watchOS 10.3.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-23204
- Published
- Jan 23, 2024
- Updated
- Apr 2, 2026
- Vendor
- Apple
- Product
- iOS and iPadOS
- Classifications
- T1020
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 23, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 2, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <16.7.6
- Affected versionversion=0 <17.3
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Bitdefender Expand URL proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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