CVE-2025-24201 in visionOS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2025
An out-of-bounds write issue was addressed with improved checks to prevent unauthorized actions. This issue is fixed in visionOS 2.3.2, iOS 18.3.2 and iPadOS 18.3.2, macOS Sequoia 15.3.2, Safari 18.3.1, watchOS 11.4, iPadOS 17.7.6, iOS 16.7.11 and iPadOS 16.7.11, iOS 15.8.4 and iPadOS 15.8.4. Maliciously crafted web content may be able to break out of Web Content sandbox. This is a supplementary fix for an attack that was blocked in iOS 17.2. (Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS before iOS 17.2.).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw that exists within Apple's web rendering and sandboxing mechanisms across multiple operating systems including visionOS, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and memory management controls that allow maliciously crafted web content to execute unauthorized operations beyond the intended boundaries of the Web Content sandbox. The vulnerability was addressed through enhanced validation checks that prevent the exploitation of memory corruption patterns which could otherwise lead to arbitrary code execution within the browser environment. This represents a significant security regression that undermines the fundamental security model of Apple's web browsing infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through improper bounds checking during web content processing, specifically when handling crafted HTML, JavaScript, or multimedia elements that trigger memory allocation patterns beyond allocated buffer boundaries. Attackers can leverage this flaw to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to privilege escalation or code execution within the browser sandbox. The vulnerability's exploitation requires sophisticated targeting and specifically affects versions prior to the mentioned security patches, with Apple noting that it was actively exploited in highly sophisticated attacks against targeted individuals before iOS 17.2. This aligns with common attack patterns identified in the attack framework where adversaries use zero-day vulnerabilities to establish persistent access to target systems through web-based delivery mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple web browsing security concerns as it affects the core isolation mechanisms that protect users from malicious web content. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability enables attackers to bypass the Web Content sandbox that is designed to prevent web-based attacks from affecting the underlying operating system or other applications. This represents a significant weakening of Apple's defense-in-depth strategy for web content processing, particularly in mobile environments where users frequently interact with untrusted web content. The vulnerability's presence in multiple operating system versions indicates a systemic issue in Apple's web rendering stack that required coordinated patching across their entire ecosystem.
Apple's response to this vulnerability demonstrates the organization's approach to addressing sophisticated threats through layered security measures, implementing both immediate patches and ongoing monitoring of exploit activity. The supplementary nature of this fix suggests that the vulnerability was part of a broader exploitation pattern that required multiple defensive measures to fully address. Organizations should implement immediate patch management for all affected systems, particularly those running versions prior to the specified security updates. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, which specifically addresses memory safety issues in software implementations where bounds checking is insufficient. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted web content, and consider implementing additional network-based protections such as web application firewalls to mitigate potential exploitation attempts.