CVE-2025-24235 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS that stems from a memory initialization issue, specifically related to heap memory management. This flaw allows a remote attacker with low privileges and local network access to trigger unexpected application termination or cause heap corruption, which could lead to denial-of-service conditions or potentially destabilize system components. The vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity directly but impacts system availability. The issue was addressed by Apple through improved memory handling in macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and macOS Sonoma 14.7.5. The CVSS v3.1 score of 5.5 reflects a medium severity, with an attack vector requiring local network access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and an impact limited to availability (A:H). The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-400, which relates to uncontrolled resource consumption or memory management issues. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the potential for denial-of-service attacks exists if exploited. The vulnerability affects unspecified macOS versions prior to the patched releases, implying a broad impact across recent Apple operating system deployments. Organizations using macOS devices should be aware of this flaw and apply vendor updates promptly to prevent exploitation.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-24235 is the potential for denial-of-service attacks resulting from unexpected application crashes or heap corruption on macOS systems. This can disrupt business operations, especially in environments where Apple devices are integral to workflows, such as creative industries, software development, and certain governmental or educational institutions. While confidentiality and integrity are not directly compromised, the availability impact can lead to operational downtime, loss of productivity, and potential cascading effects if critical applications or services are affected. The requirement for local network access and low privileges means that internal threat actors or attackers who have gained limited access to the network could exploit this vulnerability. This elevates the risk in environments with insufficient network segmentation or weak internal access controls. Additionally, organizations relying on macOS for critical infrastructure or sensitive operations may face increased risk of service interruptions. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits over time.

1. Apply the latest Apple security updates immediately, specifically macOS Ventura 13.7.5, Sequoia 15.4, and Sonoma 14.7.5 or later versions that include the fix for CVE-2025-24235. 2. Implement strict network segmentation to limit local network access to macOS devices, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. 3. Enforce least privilege principles to minimize user and process privileges on macOS systems, limiting the ability of attackers to leverage low-privilege accounts. 4. Monitor system logs and application behavior for signs of unexpected app terminations or heap corruption, which may indicate attempted exploitation. 5. Employ intrusion detection systems (IDS) and endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools configured to detect anomalous memory or application behavior on macOS endpoints. 6. Educate internal IT and security teams about this vulnerability and ensure rapid incident response capabilities in case of exploitation attempts. 7. Regularly audit and update macOS device inventories to ensure all systems are patched and compliant with security policies. 8. Consider network access controls such as NAC (Network Access Control) to prevent unauthorized devices or users from accessing sensitive network segments where macOS devices reside.