CVE-2025-24113 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2025
The issue was addressed with improved UI. This issue is fixed in Safari 18.3, Safari 18.4, iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.6, macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sequoia 15.4, visionOS 2.3, visionOS 2.4, watchOS 11.4. Visiting a malicious website may lead to user interface spoofing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2026
This vulnerability represents a user interface spoofing issue that emerged in Apple's Safari browser and related operating systems. The flaw allowed malicious websites to potentially deceive users through deceptive interface elements that could mimic legitimate browser components or system interfaces. The vulnerability was specifically addressed through enhanced user interface validation mechanisms implemented in the affected software versions. The issue affected multiple Apple platforms including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS, and watchOS, demonstrating the widespread nature of the UI spoofing threat across Apple's ecosystem. The vulnerability was resolved through software updates that strengthened the browser's interface rendering and validation processes, preventing malicious actors from creating convincing fake user interface elements that could mislead users into believing they were interacting with legitimate system components. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of deceptive interface manipulation that can lead to user confusion and potential security risks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability likely involved exploiting weaknesses in how Safari and the operating systems handled UI element rendering and validation. Attackers could potentially craft malicious web pages that appeared to display legitimate browser controls or system dialogs, tricking users into performing actions they might not otherwise take. The fix implemented by Apple involved strengthening the validation mechanisms that ensure UI elements display correctly and cannot be manipulated to appear as trusted system components. This approach aligns with common security practices for preventing phishing attacks and user interface deception, which are often categorized under CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) or similar UI-related security flaws. The vulnerability could have enabled attackers to perform social engineering attacks where users might be tricked into entering sensitive information or performing actions based on deceptive UI elements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was significant given that it affected major Apple platforms and could have enabled sophisticated phishing attacks across multiple devices. Users visiting malicious websites could have been exposed to deceptive interfaces that might have led to credential theft, financial fraud, or other security compromises. The vulnerability particularly affected the trust relationship between users and the browser interface, which is fundamental to secure computing environments. The remediation required updates across multiple operating system versions, indicating that the vulnerability was present in core system components that handle UI rendering and validation. This suggests that the fix involved fundamental changes to how user interfaces are validated and displayed, rather than simple patches to specific functions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability centered on prompt software updates across all affected platforms. Users were advised to immediately install the latest versions of their operating systems to protect against potential exploitation. Organizations needed to ensure their Apple device fleets were updated to versions containing the fix, as the vulnerability could have enabled sophisticated attacks that bypassed traditional security measures. The fix implemented by Apple represents a security enhancement that aligns with the principle of defense in depth, ensuring that even if other security layers are compromised, the user interface validation provides an additional barrier against deception attacks. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of UI security in modern computing environments and the need for comprehensive security measures that address not just traditional code vulnerabilities but also user interaction and interface manipulation threats. The remediation approach followed industry best practices for addressing UI spoofing vulnerabilities and aligns with security frameworks that emphasize protecting user trust and interface integrity as critical components of overall system security.