CVE-2025-24220 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple iOS and iPadOS devices prior to version 18.4. The issue stems from a permissions flaw that allowed an application to read a persistent device identifier without proper authorization. Persistent device identifiers are unique values tied to a device and can be used to track or fingerprint users across apps and sessions. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). The vulnerability requires local access (AV:L) and low attack complexity (AC:L), does not require privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R) such as installing or running the app. The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is limited to the vulnerable component. The confidentiality impact is high (C:H) because the device identifier is sensitive information, but integrity and availability are not affected (I:N/A:N). Apple addressed this issue by implementing additional restrictions on permissions in iOS and iPadOS 18.4, preventing unauthorized apps from accessing persistent device identifiers. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and the affected versions are unspecified but presumably all versions before 18.4. The vulnerability could be exploited by a malicious or compromised app to track users without their consent, potentially violating privacy regulations and user trust.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a privacy risk rather than a direct operational threat. The ability of an app to access persistent device identifiers without proper permission could enable unauthorized tracking of users, undermining GDPR compliance requirements related to personal data protection and user consent. Organizations that develop or distribute iOS/iPadOS apps must ensure their apps do not exploit this vulnerability and that they update devices promptly. Enterprises with bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies or mobile device management (MDM) solutions should be aware that compromised or malicious apps could collect device identifiers, potentially leading to profiling or unauthorized data correlation. While this vulnerability does not directly threaten system integrity or availability, the exposure of persistent identifiers can facilitate targeted phishing, social engineering, or profiling attacks, indirectly increasing risk. Privacy-conscious sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies in Europe should be particularly vigilant, as unauthorized tracking could lead to reputational damage and regulatory penalties.

1. Update all iOS and iPadOS devices to version 18.4 or later as soon as possible to ensure the patch is applied. 2. Enforce strict app vetting policies in enterprise app stores or MDM solutions to prevent installation of untrusted or malicious applications. 3. Educate users about the risks of installing apps from unverified sources and the importance of reviewing app permissions. 4. Monitor mobile device logs and network traffic for unusual behavior that could indicate unauthorized data collection or tracking. 5. Implement privacy controls and restrict app permissions where possible, leveraging Apple's privacy features such as App Tracking Transparency (ATT). 6. For app developers, ensure compliance with Apple's guidelines and avoid accessing persistent device identifiers unless explicitly authorized and necessary. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing on mobile environments to detect potential misuse of device identifiers. 8. Maintain an inventory of devices and apps to quickly identify and remediate vulnerable endpoints.