CVE-2025-24160 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS and other Apple operating systems such as iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. The issue arises from improper handling during the parsing of certain files, which can lead to unexpected application termination, effectively causing a denial-of-service condition. The root cause relates to CWE-404 (Improper Resource Shutdown or Release), indicating that the application fails to correctly manage resources when processing malformed or maliciously crafted files. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.3 (medium severity), with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), and the impact affects availability only (A:L), with no confidentiality or integrity impact. This means an attacker can remotely deliver a malicious file that, when opened or parsed by the user, causes the targeted application to crash, potentially disrupting workflows or services relying on that app. Apple has released patches across multiple OS versions including macOS Sonoma 14.7.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3, as well as updates for iPadOS, iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. No public exploits or active exploitation campaigns have been reported to date. The vulnerability primarily poses a risk of denial-of-service rather than data breach or system compromise. However, in environments where availability is critical, such as enterprise or government systems, this could be leveraged for targeted disruption. The vulnerability underscores the importance of robust input validation and resource management in file parsing routines.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-24160 is the potential for denial-of-service conditions caused by application crashes when processing malicious files. This can disrupt business operations, especially in sectors relying heavily on Apple devices and software, such as creative industries, education, and certain government agencies. While the vulnerability does not allow data theft or system takeover, repeated or targeted exploitation could degrade productivity or availability of critical applications. Organizations handling sensitive or high-volume file processing on Apple platforms may face increased risk. Additionally, sectors with strict uptime requirements, such as healthcare or finance, could experience operational interruptions if exploited. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be vectors for delivering the malicious files, raising concerns about user awareness and email security. Since no known exploits are currently in the wild, the immediate risk is moderate but could increase if exploit code becomes available. The broad range of affected Apple OS versions means many European enterprises with mixed Apple device environments need to ensure comprehensive patch management to mitigate exposure.

European organizations should prioritize deploying the Apple security updates that address CVE-2025-24160 across all affected devices, including macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, iPadOS 17.7.4 and 18.3, iOS 18.3, watchOS 11.3, tvOS 18.3, and visionOS 2.3. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict controls on file handling by restricting the opening of files from untrusted or unknown sources, especially in email attachments or downloads. Employ advanced email filtering and sandboxing solutions to detect and isolate suspicious files before they reach end users. User training to recognize phishing attempts and suspicious files is critical given the user interaction requirement for exploitation. Application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions can help prevent unauthorized or unexpected applications from processing untrusted files. Monitoring application crash logs and unusual behavior on Apple devices can provide early detection of exploitation attempts. For high-value or critical systems, consider isolating Apple devices or limiting their network exposure to reduce attack surface. Finally, maintain an up-to-date asset inventory of Apple devices to ensure comprehensive patch coverage and vulnerability management.