CVE-2025-24252 in visionOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/29/2025
A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in macOS Sequoia 15.4, tvOS 18.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, iPadOS 17.7.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, visionOS 2.4. An attacker on the local network may be able to corrupt process memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition that emerged in Apple's operating system ecosystem, specifically affecting multiple platform versions including macOS Sequoia 15.4, tvOS 18.4, and various iOS and iPadOS releases. The flaw stems from inadequate memory management practices where freed memory blocks are still being referenced or accessed by subsequent operations, creating a potential pathway for malicious exploitation. The issue was addressed through enhanced memory management protocols that prevent the reuse of deallocated memory regions, thereby eliminating the possibility of arbitrary code execution through memory corruption techniques.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software systems. Such flaws occur when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, allowing attackers to manipulate the memory contents or redirect execution flow. In the context of Apple's operating systems, this particular vulnerability is especially concerning because it can be exploited by attackers positioned on the local network, extending the attack surface beyond traditional local privilege escalation scenarios. The exploitability factor increases significantly when considering that network-based attackers can leverage this condition to corrupt process memory and potentially gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across Apple's entire ecosystem, affecting not only desktop environments but also mobile and embedded platforms including iOS devices, iPadOS systems, tvOS set-top boxes, and visionOS for augmented reality applications. Attackers with local network access can potentially corrupt process memory and execute malicious code with elevated privileges, compromising the integrity of system processes and user data. This vulnerability particularly affects the security model of Apple's operating systems, as it undermines the memory safety mechanisms that are fundamental to preventing unauthorized system access and maintaining data confidentiality.
The remediation strategy implemented by Apple involved strengthening memory management controls within the operating system kernel and system frameworks. These improvements include enhanced memory deallocation verification, stricter pointer validation mechanisms, and improved garbage collection processes that prevent the reuse of freed memory blocks. The fixes were rolled out across multiple platform versions, demonstrating Apple's comprehensive approach to addressing cross-platform vulnerabilities. Security professionals should prioritize updating affected systems to the patched versions, particularly in enterprise environments where local network access may be more prevalent. The mitigation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the use of system services for code execution, as attackers may attempt to exploit such memory corruption vulnerabilities to establish persistent access to compromised systems.
The vulnerability highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining memory safety within complex operating system architectures, where the interaction between multiple system components can create unexpected security weaknesses. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management programs that ensure timely deployment of security updates across all affected platforms. The use of network segmentation and access controls can help reduce the attack surface for local network-based exploits, while regular security assessments should verify that memory management practices remain robust against evolving exploitation techniques. This particular vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of memory safety in system-level programming and the necessity of rigorous security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.