CVE-2025-24157 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
A buffer overflow issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5. An app may be able to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2025
This buffer overflow vulnerability represents a critical memory safety issue that affects Apple's macOS operating system across multiple versions including Ventura 13.7.5, Sequoia 15.4, and Sonoma 14.7.5. The flaw stems from inadequate memory handling mechanisms that fail to properly validate buffer boundaries during memory allocation and data processing operations. According to CWE-121, this vulnerability falls under the category of stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious data to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The issue manifests when applications attempt to write data beyond the allocated buffer space, potentially leading to system instability and arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables malicious applications to trigger unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory structures. This type of flaw creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks where sandboxed applications might leverage the buffer overflow to gain unauthorized access to kernel-level memory regions. The kernel memory corruption aspect specifically aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves the exploitation of legitimate system privileges to gain elevated access. When an application successfully exploits this buffer overflow, it can cause the system to crash or behave unpredictably, potentially allowing attackers to execute malicious code with system-level privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes to encompass potential data integrity compromise and system availability disruption. Attackers could craft malicious applications that exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code within kernel space, effectively bypassing traditional security mechanisms such as sandboxing and memory protection. The vulnerability's presence in multiple macOS versions indicates a widespread exposure that requires immediate remediation across affected systems. Organizations should prioritize patching their macOS environments to prevent exploitation attempts that could lead to complete system compromise. The memory corruption aspect particularly threatens system stability as kernel memory corruption can result in persistent system instability, data loss, and potential information disclosure.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment to the affected macOS versions, ensuring all systems receive updates to the patched versions. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts through anomalous memory usage patterns or unexpected system termination events. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized applications from executing, enabling kernel memory protection features, and conducting regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation vectors. The vulnerability's resolution through Apple's security updates demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date operating system installations and implementing comprehensive patch management processes. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific buffer overflow vulnerability.