CVE-2025-24152 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows a local application with limited privileges to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory. The root cause is improper memory handling within the kernel or a privileged component, which can be triggered by an app running with low privileges. This memory corruption can lead to system crashes (denial of service) or potentially destabilize the kernel, affecting system stability and availability. The vulnerability does not allow for confidentiality or integrity breaches, as it does not enable data disclosure or unauthorized modification. Exploitation requires local access with low privileges but does not require user interaction, making it a threat primarily from malicious or compromised local applications or users. Apple addressed this issue in macOS Sequoia 15.3 by improving memory handling to prevent the corruption and unexpected termination. There are no known public exploits or active exploitation campaigns reported at this time. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H, indicating a local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, no confidentiality or integrity impact, but high impact on availability. This vulnerability highlights the importance of robust kernel memory management and the risks posed by local applications even with limited privileges.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-24152 is on system availability. Successful exploitation can cause unexpected system termination (crashes) or kernel memory corruption, potentially leading to system instability or denial of service. For organizations, this can result in downtime, disruption of critical services, and potential data loss if systems crash during important operations. Although confidentiality and integrity are not directly affected, the instability could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain or to disrupt operations. The requirement for local access with low privileges limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where users run untrusted applications or where attackers have gained limited local access. Enterprises relying heavily on macOS for critical infrastructure, creative workflows, or development environments may face operational risks if unpatched. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not preclude future exploitation attempts. Overall, the vulnerability poses a moderate risk to organizations worldwide, particularly those with large macOS deployments.

1. Apply the official patch by upgrading to macOS Sequoia 15.3 or later, as this update includes the fix for the vulnerability through improved memory handling. 2. Restrict installation and execution of untrusted or unnecessary applications, especially those requiring local privileges, to reduce the attack surface. 3. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting abnormal application behavior or kernel crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. 4. Monitor system logs and kernel crash reports for unusual patterns or frequent unexpected terminations that could signal exploitation attempts. 5. Implement strict user privilege management and limit local user permissions to the minimum necessary to reduce the likelihood of exploitation by low-privilege apps. 6. Educate users about the risks of running unverified software and encourage adherence to security best practices. 7. In high-security environments, consider using macOS security features such as System Integrity Protection (SIP) and sandboxing to limit app capabilities further. 8. Maintain regular backups and recovery plans to mitigate the impact of potential system crashes or instability caused by exploitation.