CVE-2025-24196 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple macOS operating systems, specifically addressed in macOS Sequoia 15.4 and macOS Sonoma 14.7.5. The vulnerability arises from a type confusion issue in the kernel's memory handling routines, which can allow an attacker with user-level privileges to read kernel memory. Type confusion vulnerabilities occur when a program incorrectly interprets a piece of memory as a different data type than intended, potentially leading to unauthorized access or corruption of memory. In this case, the flaw permits unauthorized disclosure of sensitive kernel memory contents. The vulnerability is significant because kernel memory often contains critical information such as cryptographic keys, system credentials, and other sensitive data. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with an attack vector that is network accessible (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), and only requires privileges at the user level (PR:L) without user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the vulnerability affects the same security scope. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential for exploitation exists given the nature of the flaw and the high CVSS score. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read), indicating that the issue involves reading memory outside the intended bounds, which aligns with the type confusion description. This vulnerability is critical for environments where macOS devices are used, especially in enterprise or sensitive contexts, as it could lead to leakage of kernel memory contents to unprivileged users, undermining system security.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those relying on macOS devices in their IT infrastructure, including corporate laptops, desktops, and servers. The ability for an attacker with user privileges to read kernel memory could lead to exposure of sensitive information such as encryption keys, authentication tokens, or other confidential data stored in kernel space. This could facilitate further privilege escalation, unauthorized access, or persistent compromise. Organizations in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, which often use macOS devices and handle sensitive data, could be particularly impacted. The vulnerability could also affect the integrity and availability of systems if exploited in combination with other vulnerabilities. Given the high CVSS score and the lack of required user interaction, exploitation could be automated or performed remotely if combined with other attack vectors. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides some window for mitigation, but the risk remains high due to the potential impact and ease of exploitation by a user-level attacker.

European organizations should prioritize updating affected macOS systems to the patched versions macOS Sequoia 15.4 and macOS Sonoma 14.7.5 as soon as possible to remediate this vulnerability. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict access controls to limit user privileges and reduce the number of users with local access to macOS devices. Employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions that monitor for unusual kernel memory access or privilege escalation attempts can help detect exploitation attempts. Regular auditing of user accounts and privilege levels on macOS systems is recommended to minimize the attack surface. Network segmentation can limit the ability of attackers to move laterally if initial access is gained. Additionally, organizations should ensure that macOS devices are enrolled in centralized management platforms to facilitate rapid deployment of security updates and configuration enforcement. Given the potential for kernel memory disclosure, organizations should also review and enhance their incident response plans to include scenarios involving kernel-level data leaks.