CVE-2025-31262 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/19/2025
A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions. This issue is fixed in visionOS 2.3, iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, watchOS 11.3, tvOS 18.3. An app may be able to modify protected parts of the file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical permissions flaw that allows malicious applications to bypass system-level protections and modify restricted file system components. The issue stems from insufficient access controls within the operating system's security framework, enabling unauthorized applications to gain elevated privileges that should be restricted to system processes only. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple operating systems including visionOS 2.3, iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, watchOS 11.3, and tvOS 18.3, indicating a widespread architectural weakness that impacts the entire Apple ecosystem. The root cause of this issue aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control vulnerabilities where systems fail to properly enforce authorization mechanisms for resources and operations. This weakness specifically manifests as inadequate sandboxing controls that permit applications to access protected file system areas that should remain restricted to system-level processes and trusted components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it creates a persistent attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors to modify system-critical files, inject malicious code, or compromise the integrity of the entire operating environment. Attackers could leverage this flaw to escalate privileges, modify system binaries, or manipulate protected configuration files that govern system behavior and security policies. The implications extend beyond individual device compromise to potential widespread exploitation across devices running the affected operating system versions. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1546.001 which covers modifications to the Windows Registry but applies broadly to any system where unauthorized modifications to protected system components can occur. The flaw essentially undermines the fundamental security model that separates user applications from system-critical resources, potentially allowing for persistent backdoors or complete system compromise.
The remediation approach involves implementing additional access controls and strengthening the permission model for file system operations. Apple's patch addresses this issue through enhanced sandboxing mechanisms that properly enforce access restrictions on protected file system areas. Organizations should immediately deploy the updated operating system versions to mitigate the risk of exploitation. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potentially compromised devices and implement additional monitoring for unauthorized file system modifications. The fix demonstrates Apple's approach to addressing privilege escalation vulnerabilities through improved mandatory access controls and enhanced kernel-level protection mechanisms. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to unauthorized file system modifications and maintain awareness of potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific permissions flaw across the affected platform versions.