CVE-2025-31199 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Apple iOS and iPadOS platforms, including visionOS and macOS Sequoia, that arises from a logging issue where sensitive user data may be improperly exposed due to insufficient data redaction. Specifically, the vulnerability is categorized under CWE-532, which relates to exposure of sensitive information through logs. An application running on affected versions of these operating systems could potentially access sensitive user data that should have been protected or redacted in system or application logs. 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 in logging processes. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N) indicates that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact is high on confidentiality (C:H) but none on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). No known exploits are reported in the wild as of the publication date. This vulnerability poses a risk primarily through local applications that can trick users into interaction, potentially leaking sensitive data via logs that were not properly redacted. This could include personal information, authentication tokens, or other confidential data inadvertently recorded in logs accessible to malicious apps or users.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user data on Apple devices used within corporate or personal environments. Given the widespread use of iOS and iPadOS devices in Europe for both personal and professional purposes, the exposure of sensitive information through logs could compromise user privacy and potentially lead to data breaches. This is particularly critical for sectors handling sensitive personal data under GDPR, such as healthcare, finance, and government agencies. The confidentiality impact is high, as sensitive data leakage can result in identity theft, corporate espionage, or regulatory non-compliance penalties. However, the requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation, reducing the risk of large-scale automated attacks. Still, insider threats or targeted attacks leveraging social engineering could exploit this vulnerability. Organizations relying on Apple devices should be aware of this risk, especially where devices are shared, or where users may install untrusted applications that could exploit this logging flaw.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple devices to iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, visionOS 2.4, or macOS Sequoia 15.4 as soon as possible to benefit from the improved data redaction fixes. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict application installation policies, limiting the installation of untrusted or unnecessary apps that could exploit local access vulnerabilities. Implement Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to control app permissions and monitor device logs for unusual access patterns. User training is essential to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that require user interaction; users should be educated about the risks of interacting with suspicious apps or prompts. Regular audits of device logs and access controls can help detect potential exploitation attempts. For highly sensitive environments, consider restricting local device access and using endpoint security solutions that monitor for anomalous app behavior related to log access. Finally, ensure compliance with GDPR by maintaining robust data protection policies and incident response plans addressing potential data leakage scenarios.