CVE-2025-24163 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting multiple Apple products, including iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. This vulnerability allows for parsing a file, which may lead to an unexpected app termination. The issue has been addressed with improved checks in various versions of the affected operating systems. Organizations using these systems should be aware of the potential risks.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.5, indicating a medium severity level. This score reflects the potential impact on the availability of the affected systems, given that the attack vector is local and requires user interaction. As such, the risk to organizations includes potential disruptions in service, which could affect user experience and operational efficiency.
Currently, there are no known exploits or public proof-of-concept (PoC) code available for this vulnerability, which may reduce the immediate threat level. However, organizations should not become complacent, as the nature of software vulnerabilities can lead to rapid developments in exploit techniques.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately, as the issues are addressed in updated versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. Regular updates and patch management are essential to maintain security and mitigate risks associated with vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-24163.
Vulnerability Details
The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.4, macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, tvOS 18.3, tvOS 18.4, visionOS 2.3, visionOS 2.4, watchOS 11.3, and watchOS 11.4.
The vulnerability is categorized under the CWE classification as NVD-CWE-noinfo. The CVSS v3.1 vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H, with a base score of 5.5. The attack vector is local, the attack complexity is low, and it requires no privileges but does require user interaction. The impact on availability is high, while there is no impact on confidentiality or integrity.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the parsing of files, which can trigger unexpected behavior leading to application crashes. The attack vector being local suggests that an attacker needs physical access to the device or needs to trick a user into interacting with a malicious file.
The attack complexity is low, meaning that exploiting this vulnerability does not require advanced skills. Additionally, the lack of required privileges enhances the risk profile, as any user can potentially trigger the vulnerability without administrative access. User interaction is required, which means that the exploitation relies on the user opening or interacting with a malicious file.
With no impact on confidentiality or integrity, the primary concern is the availability impact, as the vulnerability can cause applications to terminate unexpectedly, disrupting user activities.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with CVE-2025-24163 can be significant, especially in environments where users frequently interact with various files. The potential for an unexpected application termination can lead to a loss of productivity and trust in the affected systems.
For organizations utilizing Apple products, the urgency of addressing this vulnerability is medium. While the lack of known exploits reduces immediate concerns, the risk of disruption remains. Timely patching and system updates are essential to mitigate the potential for user impact.
The blast radius for this vulnerability encompasses all users of the affected Apple products. Given the variety of devices and operating systems involved, organizations should ensure comprehensive patch management practices are in place to cover all potential vectors.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Affected versions include iOS and iPadOS prior to 18.3, macOS prior to 14.7.3, tvOS prior to 18.3, visionOS prior to 2.3, and watchOS prior to 11.3. Organizations should ensure they are running the latest versions to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize upgrading to the latest versions of affected Apple products. Ensure that all devices are updated to iOS 18.3 or later, iPadOS 18.3 or later, macOS Sequoia 15.3 or later, tvOS 18.3 or later, visionOS 2.3 or later, and watchOS 11.3 or later.
In cases where immediate patching is not possible, organizations should consider implementing network controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious files. Regular monitoring of application behavior can also assist in identifying any unusual terminations.
For further guidance on security best practices, organizations can refer to our penetration testing services to help identify and remediate vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for indicators of unexpected application terminations. Behavioral anomalies in application performance may also indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
Network signatures associated with file parsing can assist in identifying malicious activity. Additionally, tracking system changes can provide insights into suspicious behavior.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2025-24163 lies in the ongoing challenges associated with application stability and security. As reliance on mobile and desktop applications continues to grow, vulnerabilities that can lead to unexpected crashes pose a serious risk to user trust and operational integrity.
This vulnerability represents a pattern in application development where checks may be insufficient, leading to exploitable conditions. Security teams should take this as a lesson to strengthen the validation of user inputs and file handling processes.
To stay ahead of such vulnerabilities, organizations should implement a comprehensive vulnerability management program that includes regular assessments and robust patch management protocols.
In addition, by engaging in penetration testing methodologies, organizations can identify similar weaknesses in other applications, thereby enhancing their overall security posture.
Ultimately, adopting a proactive security stance is essential to mitigate risks associated with vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-24163.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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