CVE-2025-24151 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2025
The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3. An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2025
This vulnerability represents a memory handling flaw that could enable malicious applications to trigger unexpected system behavior through kernel memory corruption. The issue specifically affects macOS operating systems and was resolved through enhanced memory management protocols in the mentioned versions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate memory allocation and deallocation mechanisms that could be exploited by crafted applications to manipulate kernel memory structures. Such flaws typically arise from improper bounds checking or memory lifecycle management during system operations.
The technical impact of this vulnerability manifests through potential system termination or kernel memory corruption scenarios that could compromise system stability and security. Attackers could potentially leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges or cause denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's classification aligns with common memory corruption patterns found in operating system kernels, where improper memory handling can lead to privilege escalation or system instability. This type of flaw often relates to buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or memory alignment issues that are categorized under CWE-122 and CWE-125 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework.
The operational implications extend beyond simple system crashes to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks targeting the core operating system components. When applications can corrupt kernel memory, they may gain unauthorized access to critical system resources or manipulate system behavior in ways that bypass normal security controls. This vulnerability could be particularly dangerous in environments where privileged applications or system services are present, as the memory corruption could be leveraged to escalate privileges or establish persistent access. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting kernel-level vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate deployment of the patched versions mentioned in the advisory, as these releases contain the necessary memory handling improvements. System administrators should also implement monitoring for unusual system termination events or memory allocation patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include restricting application permissions, implementing application whitelisting policies, and conducting regular security assessments of system components. Organizations should also consider deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify anomalous memory access patterns or system behavior that might indicate exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. The patch deployment process should be prioritized across all affected macOS installations to ensure comprehensive protection against this memory corruption vulnerability.