CVE-2025-31209 in watchOS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/13/2025
An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved bounds checking. This issue is fixed in watchOS 11.5, macOS Sonoma 14.7.6, tvOS 18.5, iPadOS 17.7.7, iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5, macOS Sequoia 15.5, visionOS 2.5, macOS Ventura 13.7.6. Parsing a file may lead to disclosure of user information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds read condition that affects multiple Apple operating systems including watchOS, macOS, tvOS, and iOS. The flaw occurs during file parsing operations where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to access memory locations beyond the intended data boundaries. Such vulnerabilities typically arise when software fails to validate input data length or buffer limits before processing, creating opportunities for unauthorized memory access. The issue has been classified as a memory safety vulnerability that could potentially expose sensitive user information through improper data handling during file operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within Apple's file parsing libraries. When a maliciously crafted file is processed, the application fails to properly verify array indices or buffer limits, allowing execution to proceed beyond allocated memory boundaries. This type of flaw commonly maps to CWE-129 Input Validation and Output Encoding, specifically addressing insufficient bounds checking in memory operations. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic pattern where boundary conditions are not properly enforced, creating pathways for information disclosure attacks that align with ATT&CK technique T1005 Data from Local System.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across Apple's ecosystem with affected versions spanning multiple platform releases. Systems running macOS Sonoma 14.7.6, iOS 18.5, and related operating system versions are at risk, particularly in environments where users process untrusted file content. The potential for user information disclosure makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise and personal security scenarios where sensitive data may be exposed through memory access violations. Attackers could potentially leverage this flaw to extract confidential information from system memory, including user credentials, personal data, or application-specific information.
Organizations and users should immediately apply the security updates released by Apple to address this vulnerability. The patched versions include watchOS 11.5, macOS Sonoma 14.7.6, tvOS 18.5, iPadOS 17.7.7, iOS 18.5, macOS Sequoia 15.5, and visionOS 2.5. System administrators should prioritize deployment of these updates across all affected devices, particularly in enterprise environments where file processing operations are common. Additional mitigations may include implementing strict file validation policies, restricting file type processing, and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The fix addresses the root cause through enhanced bounds checking mechanisms that properly validate memory access boundaries during file parsing operations, aligning with security best practices for preventing memory safety vulnerabilities.