CVE-2025-24095 is a vulnerability in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS operating systems that allows an application to bypass the privacy preferences set by the user. The root cause is insufficient entitlement checks, which are security mechanisms designed to restrict app capabilities based on granted permissions. This flaw means that an app with limited privileges could escalate its access rights or circumvent restrictions intended to protect user data and privacy settings. The vulnerability affects versions prior to iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, as well as visionOS 2.4, where Apple has implemented additional entitlement checks to remediate the issue. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.6, indicating a high severity level. The vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L) shows that the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low attack complexity, requires privileges but only limited user interaction, and impacts confidentiality and integrity to a high degree, with a low impact on availability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-288 (Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential for abuse is significant given the widespread use of Apple mobile devices. This vulnerability could allow malicious apps to access sensitive user data or perform unauthorized actions, undermining user trust and organizational security policies.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data accessed or stored on Apple mobile devices. Enterprises relying on iOS and iPadOS devices for communication, data processing, or remote work could face unauthorized data exposure or manipulation if malicious apps exploit this flaw. The bypass of privacy preferences could lead to leakage of personal or corporate information, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. The limited availability impact means system uptime is less affected, but the breach of privacy controls undermines compliance and security posture. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, which handle sensitive personal or classified information, are particularly vulnerable. The lack of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive patching and mitigation before widespread attacks occur.

European organizations should prioritize updating all Apple devices to iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, or visionOS 2.4 as soon as possible to apply the entitlement check fixes. Beyond patching, organizations should audit installed applications to identify and remove any untrusted or unnecessary apps, especially those requesting extensive permissions. Implement Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to enforce app installation policies and monitor app behavior for anomalous access patterns. Educate users about the risks of installing apps from unverified sources and the importance of prompt OS updates. Additionally, review and tighten privacy preference configurations and entitlement assignments within enterprise-managed devices. Continuous monitoring for unusual app activity and integrating threat intelligence feeds for emerging exploits related to this CVE will enhance detection and response capabilities.