CVE-2025-24265 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved bounds checking. 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
This vulnerability represents a classic out-of-bounds read flaw that could potentially lead to system instability and unexpected termination of applications. The issue manifests when an application attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated boundaries of a data structure, creating a scenario where the system may crash or behave unpredictably. Such vulnerabilities are particularly concerning in operating system environments where multiple applications interact with system resources and memory management components. The flaw specifically affects macOS versions prior to the patched releases, indicating that the vulnerability was present in the kernel-level memory management subsystem that handles application memory access requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the memory management routines of the operating system. When applications request memory operations or access data structures, the system should validate that these operations remain within legitimate memory boundaries. However, in this case, the validation mechanisms failed to properly enforce these boundaries, allowing malicious or flawed applications to access memory locations that should have been protected. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 category of Improper Validation of Array Index, which is a well-documented weakness in software security practices. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it could potentially be exploited to execute unintended code through memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially compromise system stability and availability. When an application triggers this out-of-bounds read condition, it may cause the operating system to terminate unexpectedly, leading to data loss and system interruptions. In a broader security context, this vulnerability could serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, as system termination can create opportunities for privilege escalation or denial-of-service conditions. The fact that this vulnerability affects core operating system functionality rather than just individual applications means that any application running on the affected systems could potentially trigger the condition, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user or enterprise environments.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability involves implementing improved bounds checking mechanisms throughout the memory management subsystem. Apple's release of patches for macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and macOS Sonoma 14.7.5 demonstrates a proactive approach to addressing memory safety issues in their operating system. These updates likely include enhanced validation routines that verify memory access boundaries before allowing any read operations, as well as additional safeguards against malformed memory access patterns. Organizations should prioritize patch deployment to ensure that all affected systems receive the necessary security updates, particularly in environments where multiple applications may be running simultaneously. The vulnerability's resolution also highlights the importance of continuous security monitoring and regular patch management practices to prevent exploitation of memory safety issues that could compromise system integrity and user data protection.