CVE-2025-24206 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability affecting Apple tvOS and other Apple operating systems including macOS Sequoia 15.4, tvOS 18.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, iPadOS 17.7.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and visionOS 2.4. The vulnerability arises from improper state management in the authentication process, allowing an attacker on the local network to bypass authentication policies. This means that an attacker who is connected to the same local network as the target device could potentially gain unauthorized access without needing valid credentials or user interaction. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-863, which relates to improper authorization, indicating that the system fails to enforce correct access controls. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.7, reflecting a high severity level, with the attack vector being local network (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality and integrity (C:H/I:H), but no impact on availability (A:N). No known exploits are reported in the wild yet, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and patched in the latest Apple OS updates. The vulnerability affects Apple tvOS primarily, which is used in Apple TV devices, but also impacts other Apple platforms, indicating a shared authentication component or similar codebase. The attack requires network proximity but no authentication or user interaction, making it a significant risk in environments where Apple devices are connected to shared or untrusted local networks.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially in environments where Apple devices such as Apple TVs and other Apple OS devices are deployed on local networks. The ability for an attacker to bypass authentication without credentials or user interaction could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, manipulation of device settings, or lateral movement within the network. Confidentiality and integrity of data on affected devices could be compromised, potentially exposing corporate media content, internal communications, or other sensitive data streamed or stored on these devices. Organizations with open or poorly segmented local networks, such as corporate offices, hotels, or public venues, are particularly vulnerable. The lack of impact on availability reduces the risk of denial-of-service, but the high confidentiality and integrity impact could facilitate espionage, data leakage, or unauthorized control of devices. Given the widespread use of Apple products in Europe, especially in sectors like media, education, and corporate environments, the vulnerability could be exploited to gain footholds or exfiltrate data. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for mitigation before active exploitation occurs.

European organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple devices to the latest patched versions: macOS Sequoia 15.4, tvOS 18.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, iPadOS 17.7.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and visionOS 2.4. Network segmentation should be enforced to isolate Apple devices from untrusted or guest networks, minimizing local network exposure. Implement strict access controls and monitoring on local networks to detect anomalous traffic patterns indicative of authentication bypass attempts. Use network access control (NAC) solutions to restrict device connectivity based on compliance status. Disable or limit unnecessary network services on Apple devices to reduce attack surface. Employ strong Wi-Fi security protocols (WPA3 where possible) and ensure that local networks are encrypted and authenticated to prevent unauthorized network access. Regularly audit device configurations and authentication policies to ensure they are correctly enforced. Educate users about the risks of connecting Apple devices to untrusted networks. Finally, maintain an incident response plan that includes detection and remediation steps for potential exploitation of local network vulnerabilities.