CVE-2025-24149 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability identified in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS platforms, as well as related operating systems such as macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. The root cause is insufficient bounds checking during the parsing of certain file types, which can lead to reading memory outside the intended buffer. This memory exposure can result in the disclosure of sensitive user information stored in memory, compromising confidentiality. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read). Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, such as opening or processing a maliciously crafted file, which triggers the vulnerable parsing code. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting the attack vector as local (AV:L), low complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), and no impact on integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). Apple has released patches in 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 to fix this issue by improving bounds checking during file parsing. No public exploits or active attacks have been reported to date. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TVs, Apple Watches, and visionOS devices, making it relevant to a wide user base.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-24149 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user information due to an out-of-bounds read during file parsing. This compromises confidentiality but does not affect data integrity or system availability. For organizations, this could lead to leakage of personal or corporate data, potentially exposing credentials, personal identifiers, or other sensitive information stored in memory. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where users may open untrusted files (e.g., email attachments, downloads). The vulnerability affects multiple Apple operating systems, thus impacting a wide range of devices including mobile, desktop, and embedded systems. Organizations relying heavily on Apple ecosystems, particularly those handling sensitive data such as healthcare, finance, or government sectors, face increased risk. Although no known exploits exist currently, the medium severity score and broad device impact warrant prompt mitigation to prevent potential targeted attacks or future exploit development.

1. Immediate application of the official patches 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, visionOS 2.3, and watchOS 11.3 is critical. 2. Educate users to avoid opening files from untrusted or unknown sources, especially in email attachments or downloads, to reduce the risk of triggering the vulnerability. 3. Implement endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block suspicious file parsing or anomalous application behavior related to file handling. 4. Employ network-level controls to limit the transfer of potentially malicious files into the environment, such as email filtering and web content scanning. 5. Monitor device logs and behavior for unusual access patterns or crashes related to file parsing components. 6. For organizations with managed Apple devices, use Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to enforce timely updates and restrict installation of unapproved applications or files. 7. Conduct regular security awareness training emphasizing the risks of opening unknown files and the importance of applying updates promptly. 8. Consider implementing data loss prevention (DLP) controls to detect and prevent unauthorized data exfiltration that could result from exploitation.