CVE-2025-31199 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple iOS and iPadOS platforms, specifically related to a logging issue where sensitive user data may be improperly exposed. The root cause stems from insufficient data redaction in system logs, allowing an application to potentially access sensitive user information that should otherwise be protected. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-532, which involves exposure of information through log files. The issue was addressed by Apple in iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, visionOS 2.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 through improved data redaction mechanisms. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium), with the vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N indicating that exploitation requires local access (local attack vector), low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction is necessary. The impact is primarily on confidentiality, as sensitive data could be exposed to unauthorized apps without affecting integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The affected versions are unspecified but presumably all versions prior to the patched releases are vulnerable. This vulnerability highlights the risk of sensitive data leakage through system logs, which can be leveraged by malicious apps to harvest personal or confidential information if a user is tricked into running them locally.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to confidentiality of sensitive user data on Apple mobile devices used within corporate environments. Organizations with employees using iOS or iPadOS devices for work-related activities could face data leakage if malicious apps exploit this flaw. This could lead to exposure of personal identifiable information (PII), corporate credentials, or other sensitive data stored or processed on these devices. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or social engineering attacks could still leverage this vulnerability. The impact is particularly relevant for sectors handling sensitive data such as finance, healthcare, legal, and government agencies within Europe, where data protection regulations like GDPR impose strict requirements on data confidentiality. Although the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information could lead to reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and loss of customer trust.

European organizations should prioritize updating all Apple devices to iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, visionOS 2.4, or macOS Sequoia 15.4 as soon as possible to ensure the vulnerability is patched. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict application control policies to restrict installation of untrusted or unnecessary apps, reducing the risk of malicious apps exploiting local vulnerabilities. Employ Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to enforce app whitelisting and monitor device compliance. Educate users on the risks of installing unknown apps and the importance of avoiding suspicious links or prompts that require interaction. Regularly audit device logs and app permissions to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review and limit the amount of sensitive data logged by applications and system components to minimize exposure in case of logging issues. Implementing endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools that support iOS/iPadOS can help identify suspicious activities related to local exploitation attempts.