CVE-2025-24143 is a vulnerability identified in Apple visionOS, disclosed in January 2025, that allows a maliciously crafted webpage to fingerprint users by exploiting insufficient access restrictions to the file system. Fingerprinting is a technique used to uniquely identify and track users based on device and environment characteristics without relying on traditional cookies or authentication. The vulnerability arises because the affected versions of visionOS do not adequately restrict access to certain file system information that can be queried via a web browser, enabling attackers to gather unique identifiers. This issue is addressed by Apple in visionOS 2.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, Safari 18.3, iOS 18.3, and iPadOS 18.3 through improved access controls. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.5 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based, requires no privileges, but does require user interaction (visiting a malicious webpage). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality by enabling user fingerprinting but does not affect integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently in the wild, but the potential for privacy-invasive tracking is significant given the growing use of visionOS devices. The CWE associated is CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating a failure to properly restrict access to sensitive resources. This vulnerability highlights the risks of privacy breaches in emerging AR/VR platforms where new attack surfaces are being explored by adversaries.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-24143 is on user privacy and confidentiality. Fingerprinting can enable persistent tracking of users across sessions and websites, undermining privacy regulations such as GDPR. Organizations handling sensitive or personal data may face compliance risks if users are fingerprinted without consent. Additionally, fingerprinting can facilitate targeted phishing or social engineering attacks by profiling users. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government that adopt visionOS for AR/VR applications could be targeted for espionage or surveillance. While the vulnerability does not allow direct system compromise or data modification, the erosion of user anonymity can have reputational and legal consequences. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the widespread adoption of Apple devices in Europe means the attack surface is significant. Organizations using visionOS in public-facing or employee environments should be aware of the privacy implications and potential for abuse by malicious web actors.

1. Immediately apply Apple’s security updates: upgrade visionOS devices to version 2.3 or later, and ensure related Apple OS and Safari versions are updated to the patched releases. 2. Implement strict web content filtering and monitoring to block or flag access to suspicious or untrusted webpages, especially in enterprise environments. 3. Educate users about the risks of visiting unknown or untrusted websites, emphasizing the potential for fingerprinting and privacy breaches. 4. Employ network-level protections such as DNS filtering and web proxies that can detect and prevent access to malicious web content. 5. Consider deploying endpoint security solutions that monitor browser behavior and detect anomalous file system access attempts. 6. For organizations developing visionOS applications, follow best practices for minimizing exposure of sensitive device information and enforce strict access controls. 7. Regularly audit and review privacy policies and compliance measures to ensure fingerprinting risks are addressed in line with GDPR and other regulations. 8. Collaborate with Apple support and security teams for guidance on secure deployment and incident response related to visionOS vulnerabilities.