CVE-2025-24205 is an authorization vulnerability identified in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS platforms, as well as macOS variants, caused by improper state management that allows an application to access user-sensitive data without proper authorization. The root cause relates to CWE-284, which involves insufficient access control mechanisms. This flaw permits apps to bypass intended security restrictions, potentially exposing confidential user information. The vulnerability requires local access to the device and user interaction, such as launching or interacting with the malicious app, to be exploited. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium), reflecting the attack vector as local (AV:L), low complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), no integrity impact (I:N), and no availability impact (A:N). Apple has released patches in iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.6, and macOS Sequoia 15.4, Sonoma 14.7.5, and Ventura 13.7.5 to address this issue by improving state management and authorization checks. No public exploits or active attacks have been reported to date, but the vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized data disclosure if exploited.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-24205 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on affected Apple devices. This can lead to privacy violations, potential identity theft, and exposure of confidential information. Since the vulnerability does not affect data integrity or system availability, the risk is confined to confidentiality breaches. The requirement for local access and user interaction reduces the likelihood of widespread remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk in environments where malicious apps can be installed or social engineering is effective. Organizations relying heavily on Apple devices for sensitive communications or data storage could face compliance and reputational risks if this vulnerability is exploited. Attackers could leverage this flaw to gather personal or corporate data without detection, especially in high-value targets such as government, finance, and technology sectors.

To mitigate CVE-2025-24205, organizations and users should promptly apply the official patches released by Apple in iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, iPadOS 17.7.6, macOS Sequoia 15.4, Sonoma 14.7.5, and Ventura 13.7.5. Beyond patching, organizations should enforce strict app installation policies, allowing only trusted and vetted applications through mobile device management (MDM) solutions. User education is critical to reduce the risk of social engineering that could lead to installing malicious apps. Employing endpoint protection solutions that monitor app behavior for unauthorized data access can provide additional defense layers. Regular audits of installed applications and permissions can help detect anomalies. Restricting device access and enforcing strong authentication mechanisms will further reduce the risk of local exploitation. Finally, organizations should monitor for unusual data access patterns and maintain incident response plans tailored to mobile and macOS environments.