CVE-2025-24127 is a vulnerability identified in Apple’s iOS, iPadOS, and several related operating systems, where parsing a specially crafted file can lead to an unexpected termination of an application. This issue is categorized under CWE-770, which involves improper resource allocation or lack of throttling, indicating that the parsing process does not adequately validate or limit resource consumption when handling input files. The vulnerability allows an attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) by forcing an app to crash unexpectedly. Exploitation requires the attacker to have local access to the device and the victim to interact with the malicious file, such as opening or previewing it. No elevated privileges are necessary, making it accessible to low-privilege attackers but requiring user interaction. Apple has mitigated this vulnerability by implementing improved input validation and checks in the affected operating systems, including 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, and visionOS 2.3. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting the local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, but requiring user interaction and causing availability impact only. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, but the vulnerability poses a risk of service disruption for affected applications, which could impact user productivity and critical workflows on Apple devices.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-24127 is denial of service through unexpected app termination, which can disrupt normal operations on Apple devices. For individual users, this may result in loss of unsaved data and degraded user experience. For organizations, especially those relying on iOS and iPadOS devices for business-critical applications, this vulnerability could lead to interruptions in workflows, reduced productivity, and potential operational delays. In environments where Apple devices are used in sensitive or high-availability contexts (e.g., healthcare, finance, or government), repeated or targeted exploitation could degrade service reliability. Although the vulnerability does not allow data theft or privilege escalation, the availability impact can be significant if exploited at scale or against key applications. The requirement for user interaction limits remote exploitation, but phishing or social engineering could be used to deliver malicious files. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but unpatched devices remain vulnerable to potential future attacks.

Organizations and users should promptly apply the security updates released by Apple for 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, and visionOS 2.3 to remediate this vulnerability. Beyond patching, users should exercise caution when opening files from untrusted or unknown sources, especially in messaging apps, email, or web downloads. Implementing endpoint protection solutions that can detect anomalous app crashes or suspicious file activity may help identify exploitation attempts. Organizations should educate users on phishing and social engineering risks to reduce the likelihood of interacting with malicious files. Where possible, restricting file types that can be opened or previewed on managed devices can reduce exposure. Monitoring application crash logs and device behavior for unusual patterns can provide early warning of exploitation attempts. Finally, maintaining regular backups ensures data integrity in case of disruption caused by app crashes.