CVE-2025-24160 is a vulnerability in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS platforms, as well as other Apple operating systems, where the parsing of a specially crafted file can lead to an unexpected termination of an application. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-404, indicating improper resource shutdown or release, which in this context means that the application fails to handle certain file inputs correctly, causing it to crash. The root cause is insufficient validation and error handling during file parsing routines, which can be exploited by an attacker to cause denial of service by crashing targeted applications. The vulnerability does not impact confidentiality or integrity but affects availability by causing app crashes. Exploitation requires no privileges but does require user interaction, such as opening or processing a malicious file. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium), reflecting the ease of exploitation and limited impact scope. Apple has released patches in iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3 and 17.7.4, macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, tvOS 18.3, visionOS 2.3, and watchOS 11.3 to address this issue by implementing improved input validation and error handling during file parsing. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted denial of service attacks against users who open malicious files.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-24160 is denial of service through unexpected application termination on affected Apple devices. This can disrupt user productivity and potentially cause loss of unsaved data within the affected app. While it does not lead to data breach or privilege escalation, repeated or targeted exploitation could degrade user experience and trust in applications handling untrusted files. Organizations relying heavily on Apple devices for critical business functions may face operational interruptions if users open malicious files. Additionally, attackers could use this vulnerability as part of a broader attack chain to distract or disrupt users. The scope includes a wide range of Apple platforms, increasing the potential affected user base globally. However, the requirement for user interaction and the lack of privilege escalation limit the severity to medium. No known active exploits reduce immediate risk but patching remains important to prevent future exploitation.

To mitigate CVE-2025-24160, organizations and users should promptly apply the security updates released by Apple for all affected platforms: iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3 and 17.7.4, macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, tvOS 18.3, visionOS 2.3, and watchOS 11.3. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict file handling policies, including restricting the opening of files from untrusted or unknown sources on Apple devices. Employ mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce update compliance and control app permissions related to file access. Educate users to be cautious when opening files received via email, messaging apps, or downloads, especially from unverified sources. Monitoring application crash logs can help detect potential exploitation attempts. For high-security environments, consider sandboxing or isolating applications that process untrusted files to limit impact. Regularly review and update incident response plans to address denial of service incidents on Apple platforms.