CVE-2025-24157 is a buffer overflow vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that allows an application to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory. The root cause is improper memory handling leading to a classic CWE-120 buffer overflow condition. This flaw affects multiple macOS versions prior to the patched releases: Ventura 13.7.5, Sequoia 15.4, and Sonoma 14.7.5. The vulnerability can be triggered remotely (network attack vector) without requiring privileges or user interaction, but the attack complexity is high, indicating that exploitation requires specific conditions or sophisticated techniques. Successful exploitation can result in denial of service through system crashes or potentially more severe kernel memory corruption, which could destabilize the system or lead to undefined behavior. Although no active exploits have been observed in the wild, the vulnerability poses a risk to macOS users, particularly in environments where system stability is critical. The fix involves improved memory handling to prevent buffer overflow conditions. Organizations running affected macOS versions should prioritize patching to mitigate this risk. The vulnerability's medium CVSS score (5.6) reflects moderate impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with limited ease of exploitation.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-24157 is potential operational disruption due to unexpected system crashes or kernel memory corruption on macOS devices. This can affect business continuity, especially in sectors relying heavily on Apple hardware such as creative industries, software development, and certain enterprise environments. While the vulnerability does not directly lead to data breaches or privilege escalation, the instability caused could result in loss of productivity, data corruption, or increased support costs. Organizations with large macOS deployments may face increased risk of widespread disruption if targeted. Additionally, critical infrastructure or government agencies using macOS could experience service interruptions, impacting broader operational capabilities. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits over time. Therefore, the impact is moderate but significant enough to warrant proactive mitigation.

1. Apply the official patches by upgrading macOS to Ventura 13.7.5, Sequoia 15.4, or Sonoma 14.7.5 as soon as possible to eliminate the vulnerability. 2. Implement strict application whitelisting and monitoring to detect and prevent execution of untrusted or suspicious applications that could attempt exploitation. 3. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying anomalous kernel-level activity or crashes indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Conduct regular system integrity checks and kernel memory monitoring to detect early signs of corruption or instability. 5. Limit network exposure of macOS devices where feasible, especially in sensitive environments, to reduce attack surface. 6. Educate users and administrators about the importance of timely updates and recognizing unusual system behavior. 7. Maintain robust backup and recovery procedures to mitigate impact from potential system crashes or data corruption. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on proactive detection, system hardening, and operational resilience specific to macOS environments.