CVE-2025-24271 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple devices running tvOS, macOS, iPadOS, iOS, and visionOS. The flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker on the same local network as a signed-in Mac or compatible Apple device to send AirPlay commands without requiring the usual pairing process. AirPlay is Apple's proprietary protocol for streaming audio, video, and screen mirroring between devices. Normally, AirPlay commands require pairing or authentication to prevent unauthorized control. However, due to insufficient access restrictions (classified under CWE-843: Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type and CWE-306: Missing Authentication for Critical Function), an attacker can bypass these controls and issue commands remotely. This could allow an attacker to manipulate media playback, potentially disrupt user experience, or cause minor integrity issues by injecting unauthorized commands. The vulnerability does not allow for code execution or system takeover, and it does not impact availability directly. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.4, reflecting low complexity of attack (local network access only, no privileges or user interaction required) but limited impact (confidentiality and integrity impact are low, no availability impact). The issue affects multiple 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. Apple has addressed the vulnerability by improving access restrictions in these versions. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability requires the attacker to be on the same network segment as the target device, limiting remote exploitation but still posing a risk in shared or public Wi-Fi environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized manipulation of Apple devices in office environments, conference rooms, or public spaces where Apple devices are used for presentations or media streaming. Although the impact on confidentiality and integrity is low, unauthorized AirPlay commands could disrupt meetings, cause embarrassment, or be leveraged as part of a broader social engineering or distraction attack. In sensitive environments, such as government agencies or critical infrastructure operators using Apple devices, this could undermine trust in device security and potentially expose internal network segments if attackers use this as a foothold for lateral movement. The requirement for local network access limits the threat to environments with shared Wi-Fi or poorly segmented networks, which are common in many organizations. The vulnerability does not allow for data exfiltration or system compromise directly but could be combined with other vulnerabilities or insider threats. Overall, the impact is moderate but should not be underestimated in environments where Apple devices are integral to operations or public-facing services.

1. Upgrade all affected Apple devices to the patched versions listed (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, visionOS 2.4) as soon as possible. 2. Implement network segmentation to isolate Apple devices used for AirPlay from general user networks, especially in corporate or public environments. 3. Use strong Wi-Fi security protocols (WPA3 where possible) and enforce network access controls to limit unauthorized devices from joining the same network segment. 4. Disable AirPlay or restrict AirPlay access on devices where it is not required, using device management policies or configuration profiles. 5. Monitor network traffic for unusual AirPlay commands or unexpected device behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Educate users about the risks of connecting to unsecured or public Wi-Fi networks where attackers could exploit this vulnerability. 7. For high-security environments, consider disabling multicast DNS (mDNS) or Bonjour services that facilitate AirPlay discovery, if feasible without impacting business operations.