CVE-2025-24230 in visionOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
An out-of-bounds read issue was addressed with improved input validation. This issue is fixed in visionOS 2.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, tvOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.6, iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5. Playing a malicious audio file may lead to an unexpected app termination.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-24230 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw that affects multiple Apple operating systems including visionOS, macOS, tvOS, and iPadOS. This security issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the audio processing subsystem, where the system fails to properly validate audio file parameters before attempting to read data beyond allocated memory boundaries. The flaw manifests when the system processes maliciously crafted audio files that contain malformed data structures or unexpected parameter values that exceed the expected buffer limits.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where software attempts to read memory locations beyond the bounds of allocated buffers. This type of flaw typically occurs when developers assume certain data formats or sizes without proper validation, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate input data to trigger memory access violations. The vulnerability specifically affects audio file parsing routines that do not adequately check array indices or buffer limits before accessing audio sample data or metadata structures.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to user systems as it can be exploited through simple media playback attacks. An attacker who successfully delivers a malicious audio file to a victim's device could cause applications to crash unexpectedly, potentially leading to denial of service conditions or more severe exploitation scenarios. The described behavior of unexpected app termination indicates that the system's memory corruption likely triggers a segmentation fault or similar memory management exception that forces application processes to terminate. This type of attack vector is particularly concerning in environments where audio processing applications are frequently used, such as media centers, streaming platforms, or productivity applications that handle user-generated content.
The security implications extend beyond simple application crashes, as out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities often serve as precursors to more sophisticated exploitation techniques. Attackers may leverage this initial vulnerability to establish a foothold for further attacks, potentially using the memory corruption to influence program execution flow or to extract sensitive information from memory regions. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Apple platforms including visionOS, macOS, tvOS, and iPadOS demonstrates the widespread nature of the affected codebase and suggests that the flaw exists in core audio processing libraries shared across these operating systems. The recommended mitigations include immediate deployment of the security patches released in versions macOS Ventura 13.7.5, tvOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.6, iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, which implement proper input validation mechanisms to prevent malformed audio data from causing memory access violations. These updates address the root cause by introducing bounds checking and parameter validation routines that ensure audio file parsing operations remain within allocated memory boundaries, thereby preventing the out-of-bounds read conditions that could lead to system instability or potential exploitation.