CVE-2025-24200 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple products, specifically iPadOS and iPhone OS. This vulnerability allows a physical attacker to disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device, potentially leading to unauthorized access. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 6.1, indicating a moderate level of risk that organizations must address.
This vulnerability arises from an authorization issue addressed with improved state management. Apple has released updates to mitigate this issue in iPadOS 17.7.5, iOS 18.3.1, and iPadOS 18.3.1. Given the potential for exploitation, especially in sophisticated targeted attacks against specific individuals, organizations using affected Apple devices should act promptly.
Risk to organizations includes the possibility of unauthorized data access if the vulnerability is exploited. Therefore, organizations should prioritize patching immediately to ensure their devices are protected against this threat.
The urgency for defenders is heightened as the vulnerability has been identified in known exploitation timelines. It is crucial for organizations to monitor their environments and apply the necessary patches to mitigate potential risks.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-2025-24200 is characterized as an authorization issue that was addressed by Apple with improved state management. The fixed versions include iPadOS 17.7.5 and iOS 18.3.1. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-863, indicating an improper authorization issue. The vulnerability was published on February 10, 2025, and has been analyzed for its potential impact and exploitation.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is linked to inadequate state management concerning USB Restricted Mode. The attack vector is classified as physical, meaning that an attacker must have physical access to the device in question. Attack complexity is considered low, as the attacker does not require any special privileges or user interaction to exploit this vulnerability.
The impacts of this vulnerability are significant, as it has high confidentiality and integrity impacts. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored on the device. However, the availability impact is negligible, as the device remains operational.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world deployment risk is high due to the physical nature of the attack, which could be executed in settings where devices are left unattended. Organizations must understand that the blast radius of this vulnerability could include sensitive data breaches, especially for users in high-stakes environments.
The urgency assessment, based on the CVSS score and the existence of this vulnerability in the KEV catalog, indicates that organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle. Immediate action is necessary to mitigate potential exploitation risks.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions include all versions of iPadOS prior to 17.7.5 and all versions of iPhone OS prior to 18.3.1. Organizations should ensure that they apply the latest patches to maintain security.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching by upgrading to iPadOS 17.7.5 or iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1. If patches are not immediately available, organizations should consider implementing additional security measures to restrict physical access to devices.
For comprehensive security, organizations can engage in penetration testing to assess the security posture of their systems and identify potential weaknesses.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of unauthorized access attempts and any behavioral anomalies that could suggest exploitation of this vulnerability. Implementing network signatures can also aid in detecting potential physical access attempts.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2025-24200 is that it highlights the ongoing challenges of physical security in mobile devices. The pattern of vulnerabilities like this one indicates a pressing need for enhanced physical security measures in sensitive environments.
Security teams must remain vigilant and proactive in their security assessments and response strategies. For organizations looking to bolster their defenses, engaging in red teaming exercises can provide insights into potential attack vectors and improve overall resilience.
Furthermore, organizations should consider establishing a comprehensive application security assessment program to continuously evaluate and enhance their security posture against evolving threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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