CVE-2025-24161 is a vulnerability identified in Apple’s macOS and other Apple operating systems where parsing a specially crafted file can lead to an unexpected application termination, effectively causing a denial of service condition. The root cause relates to insufficient validation during file parsing, classified under CWE-754 (Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions). When an application processes a maliciously crafted file, it may crash unexpectedly, disrupting normal operation. This vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms including macOS (Sonoma 14.7.3 and earlier), iPadOS, iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), with attack vector local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), no impact on confidentiality or integrity (C:N/I:N), and high impact on availability (A:H). The vulnerability does not allow code execution or data leakage but can be leveraged to cause denial of service by crashing applications that parse files, potentially disrupting workflows. Apple has released patches in the latest OS versions to improve input validation and prevent this issue. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported to date. Organizations using Apple devices should apply these updates promptly to mitigate risk.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-24161 is availability disruption due to application crashes when processing malicious files. This can affect productivity, especially in sectors relying heavily on Apple devices such as creative industries, education, and mobile workforce environments. While the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, denial of service conditions can interrupt critical business processes or user activities. In environments where Apple devices are used for sensitive operations or customer-facing services, unexpected app termination could degrade service quality or availability. Additionally, targeted attacks exploiting this vulnerability could be used as a distraction or to facilitate other attack vectors by causing system instability. Organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies or mixed OS environments should be aware of potential cross-platform impacts if files are shared between users. Prompt patching reduces the risk of disruption and maintains operational continuity.

1. Apply the latest Apple security updates immediately, including macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, iPadOS 17.7.4, iOS 18.3, watchOS 11.3, tvOS 18.3, and visionOS 2.3. 2. Implement strict file handling policies to limit the opening of untrusted or unsolicited files, especially from unknown sources. 3. Educate users about the risks of opening files from unverified origins and encourage cautious behavior to reduce user interaction risks. 4. Use application whitelisting or sandboxing to restrict the ability of applications to parse files in sensitive environments. 5. Monitor application logs and system stability metrics for unusual crashes that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect anomalous application behavior related to file parsing. 7. For organizations with mobile device management (MDM), enforce update policies and restrict installation of unpatched devices. 8. Regularly review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving denial of service from application crashes.