CVE-2025-24126 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2025
An input validation issue was addressed. This issue is fixed in visionOS 2.3, iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, watchOS 11.3, tvOS 18.3. An attacker on the local network may be able to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt process memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical input validation flaw that exists within Apple's operating systems, specifically affecting visionOS 2.3, iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, watchOS 11.3, and tvOS 18.3. The issue stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input data, creating potential pathways for malicious actors to exploit system stability and memory integrity. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-20, which encompasses weaknesses in input validation, making it particularly concerning given the broad ecosystem impact across Apple's platform suite.
The technical nature of this flaw allows an attacker positioned on the local network to potentially trigger unexpected system termination or cause memory corruption within running processes. This type of vulnerability operates at a fundamental level where malformed input can bypass existing security controls, leading to system instability or potential privilege escalation scenarios. The memory corruption aspect specifically indicates that the vulnerability could enable attackers to manipulate process memory structures, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or complete system compromise. The local network requirement suggests that while the attack vector is somewhat constrained, it remains highly relevant in environments where network segmentation is insufficient.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations deploying Apple devices across their networks. The potential for unexpected system termination could disrupt critical business operations, while memory corruption creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks that might persist across system reboots. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms, meaning that enterprises utilizing Apple's ecosystem across various device types face unified exposure. This cross-platform nature also indicates that attackers can leverage a single exploit technique across different device categories, increasing the overall attack surface and reducing the effectiveness of platform-specific security controls.
The remediation strategy involves implementing the security updates released with iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, watchOS 11.3, tvOS 18.3, and visionOS 2.3. These patches address the underlying input validation issues through enhanced data sanitization mechanisms and improved boundary checking within the affected system components. Network administrators should prioritize deployment of these updates across all managed Apple devices, particularly those operating in environments with limited network segmentation. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework would likely map to techniques involving privilege escalation and system resource manipulation, making it a critical target for defensive measures.
Organizations should consider implementing additional network-level controls such as firewall rules to limit local network access where possible, though this approach may not fully mitigate the risk given the nature of local network attacks. The vulnerability's impact on system stability and memory integrity suggests that continuous monitoring for unusual system behavior or unexpected reboots should be implemented as part of security operations. Regular vulnerability assessments should include verification that all Apple platforms are updated to patched versions, as the interconnected nature of Apple's ecosystem means that a single vulnerable device can potentially compromise the entire network. The remediation process should also include testing of the updates in controlled environments before widespread deployment to ensure compatibility with existing enterprise applications and services.