CVE-2025-24237 is a critical security vulnerability identified in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS platforms, as well as related operating systems such as macOS Ventura, macOS Sequoia, macOS Sonoma, and visionOS. The root cause is a buffer overflow due to insufficient bounds checking in system components that handle app operations. This flaw allows a maliciously crafted app to trigger unexpected system termination, effectively causing a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely without requiring any privileges or user interaction, making it highly dangerous. The CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8 reflects the vulnerability’s high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as a successful exploit could lead to system crashes and potentially enable further exploitation or data leakage. Apple has released patches in versions iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4 and 17.7.6, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, and visionOS 2.4 to address this issue by implementing improved bounds checking to prevent the buffer overflow. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability’s characteristics suggest it could be weaponized quickly. The CWE-120 classification confirms this is a classic buffer overflow vulnerability, a well-known and often exploited weakness in software security.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-24237 is significant due to the widespread use of Apple devices in both consumer and enterprise environments. The vulnerability can cause unexpected system termination, leading to denial-of-service conditions that disrupt business operations, especially in sectors relying on mobile computing and remote work. Confidentiality and integrity may also be compromised if the buffer overflow is leveraged for further exploitation beyond system crashes. Critical infrastructure, government agencies, financial institutions, and healthcare providers using iOS or iPadOS devices could face operational outages and potential data breaches. The ease of exploitation without authentication or user interaction increases the risk of automated attacks or worm-like propagation within networks. Furthermore, the disruption caused by system crashes could impact availability of critical services and lead to reputational damage and financial losses. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive patching and mitigation before widespread attacks occur.

European organizations should immediately prioritize updating all affected Apple devices and systems to the patched OS versions: iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4 and 17.7.6, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, and visionOS 2.4. Enforce strict mobile device management (MDM) policies to ensure timely deployment of these updates. Restrict app installations to trusted sources such as the official Apple App Store and implement application whitelisting where possible to prevent installation of potentially malicious apps. Monitor device logs and behavior for signs of abnormal system terminations or crashes that could indicate exploitation attempts. Employ network-level protections to detect and block suspicious traffic targeting Apple devices. Educate users about the importance of installing updates promptly and avoiding untrusted applications. For critical environments, consider temporary isolation or segmentation of vulnerable devices until patches are applied. Collaborate with Apple support and security teams for guidance and incident response if exploitation is suspected.