CVE-2025-30448 is a critical security vulnerability identified in Apple iPadOS and other Apple operating systems, including macOS Sonoma 14.7.6, Ventura 13.7.6, Sequoia 15.4, iOS 18.5, iPadOS 17.7.7 and 18.5, and visionOS 2.5. The vulnerability arises from insufficient entitlement checks that allow an attacker to enable sharing on an iCloud folder without requiring any authentication or user interaction. This means an unauthenticated attacker can remotely modify iCloud folder sharing settings, potentially exposing sensitive user data to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating a failure to properly enforce access controls. The CVSS v3.1 score is 9.1 (critical), reflecting the vulnerability's ease of exploitation (network vector, no privileges required, no user interaction) and its severe impact on confidentiality and availability. While integrity impact is rated none, the unauthorized sharing could lead to data leakage and disruption of data availability. Apple has addressed this issue by implementing additional entitlement checks in the stated OS versions. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability's nature and criticality make it a high-risk target for attackers aiming to access or disrupt iCloud data. The vulnerability affects all unspecified versions prior to the patched releases, meaning a broad range of Apple device users are vulnerable if not updated.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and availability of sensitive data stored in iCloud. Attackers exploiting this flaw could enable sharing on private folders without authorization, potentially exposing confidential corporate documents, intellectual property, or personal data of employees and customers. This could lead to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), reputational damage, and operational disruptions if critical data is accessed or shared externally. The lack of required authentication and user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the threat landscape. Organizations relying on Apple devices for collaboration and data storage are particularly vulnerable. The impact extends to sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and technology, where sensitive data confidentiality is paramount. Additionally, availability impacts could arise if attackers manipulate sharing settings to disrupt normal data access workflows. Given the widespread use of Apple devices in Europe, the potential scale of impact is substantial.

European organizations should immediately verify that all Apple devices are updated to the patched OS versions: macOS Sonoma 14.7.6, Ventura 13.7.6, Sequoia 15.4, iOS 18.5, iPadOS 17.7.7 and 18.5, and visionOS 2.5. Deploying these updates promptly is critical to close the entitlement check gap exploited by this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should audit iCloud folder sharing settings across corporate-managed devices to detect any unauthorized sharing configurations. Implement monitoring and alerting for changes in iCloud sharing permissions to quickly identify potential exploitation attempts. Enforce strict device management policies using Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to control OS update deployment and restrict unauthorized configuration changes. Educate users about the importance of reporting unexpected sharing notifications or changes. For highly sensitive data, consider limiting iCloud usage or employing additional encryption layers. Finally, review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving cloud data exposure via iCloud vulnerabilities.