CVE-2025-24127 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2025
The issue was addressed with improved checks. This issue is fixed in iPadOS 17.7.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, visionOS 2.3, iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, tvOS 18.3. Parsing a file may lead to an unexpected app termination.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2025-24127 represents a stability issue within Apple's operating systems that manifests when parsing specific file formats. This flaw affects multiple platforms including iPadOS, macOS across several versions, visionOS, iOS, and tvOS, indicating a widespread concern in Apple's file processing infrastructure. The issue was resolved through enhanced validation mechanisms that prevent malformed or specially crafted files from causing application crashes or unexpected terminations. The vulnerability falls under the category of input validation weaknesses that could potentially be exploited to disrupt system operations or create denial of service conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization during file parsing operations within Apple's core frameworks. When applications attempt to process certain file structures, the absence of proper boundary checking or format validation leads to memory corruption or invalid memory access conditions. This type of flaw typically maps to CWE-129 Input Validation and Output Encoding, where inadequate checks on input data can result in application instability. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign file operations can become vectors for system disruption when proper defensive programming practices are not implemented.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to user productivity and system reliability across Apple's ecosystem. Users may experience unexpected application crashes when opening files from untrusted sources, potentially leading to data loss or service interruption. The impact extends beyond individual user experience to enterprise environments where file sharing and collaboration are common practices. Security researchers have noted that such parsing vulnerabilities often serve as initial access vectors for more sophisticated attacks, as they can be leveraged to establish footholds before more advanced exploitation techniques are employed. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where initial compromise occurs through application-level flaws.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves immediate deployment of the patched versions mentioned in the advisory. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected devices to ensure comprehensive protection across their managed fleets. System administrators should implement monitoring for unusual application crash patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing file validation policies and sandboxing measures can provide defense-in-depth protection. The fix demonstrates Apple's commitment to addressing stability issues through improved input validation, aligning with industry best practices for secure coding standards. Regular patch management processes should be reinforced to maintain system integrity against similar vulnerabilities that may emerge in file processing components.