CVE-2025-24124 is a vulnerability identified in Apple’s iOS, iPadOS, and several other Apple operating systems, where parsing a specially crafted file can lead to an unexpected termination of an application. The root cause is insufficient validation or improper handling of certain file inputs, which triggers a crash during the parsing process. This vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms including iOS, iPadOS, macOS (Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura), tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. The issue was addressed by Apple through improved input validation and error handling in the file parsing routines, with patches released in versions iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3 and 17.7.4, macOS Sequoia 15.3, Sonoma 14.7.3, Ventura 13.7.3, tvOS 18.3, visionOS 2.3, and watchOS 11.3. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring the attacker to have local access to the device, no privileges are required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R) to open or process the malicious file. The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact is limited to availability (A:H), with no confidentiality or integrity impact. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no public exploit code has been reported. This vulnerability primarily results in denial-of-service conditions by crashing apps, potentially disrupting user activities or automated processes relying on the affected applications.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-24124 is denial of service through unexpected application termination, which can disrupt user workflows and automated tasks on Apple devices. While it does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact can affect critical applications, especially in enterprise or operational environments where stability is essential. Attackers with local access could exploit this vulnerability by tricking users into opening malicious files, causing app crashes and potential data loss if unsaved work is lost. In environments with shared devices or kiosks, repeated exploitation could lead to persistent service disruptions. Although exploitation requires user interaction and local access, the widespread use of Apple devices globally means that many organizations could be affected if patches are not applied. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat of future exploitation. The vulnerability’s medium severity reflects a moderate risk that should be addressed promptly to maintain system reliability and user trust.

To mitigate CVE-2025-24124, organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple operating systems to the patched versions: iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3 and 17.7.4, macOS Sequoia 15.3, Sonoma 14.7.3, Ventura 13.7.3, tvOS 18.3, visionOS 2.3, and watchOS 11.3. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict controls on file sources, restricting the opening of files from untrusted or unknown origins to reduce the risk of malicious file exposure. User education is critical to prevent inadvertent opening of suspicious files. Deploy endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous app crashes or suspicious file parsing behavior. For managed environments, consider application whitelisting and sandboxing to limit the impact of app crashes. Regularly monitor device logs for repeated app terminations that may indicate exploitation attempts. Backup critical user data frequently to mitigate potential data loss from unexpected app closures. Finally, maintain an inventory of Apple devices and their OS versions to ensure timely patch deployment and compliance.