CVE-2025-31200 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Apple's visionOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and macOS Sequoia operating systems that arises when processing an audio stream embedded in a maliciously crafted media file. The root cause is insufficient bounds checking during audio stream processing, which can lead to memory corruption and potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected device. This vulnerability was addressed by Apple through improved bounds checking in updates tvOS 18.4.1, visionOS 2.4.1, iOS 18.4.1, iPadOS 18.4.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.4.1. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.8, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N) shows that the attack can be launched remotely over the network, requires low privileges but high attack complexity, no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality and integrity with no impact on availability. Apple has acknowledged reports that this vulnerability has been exploited in highly sophisticated attacks targeting specific individuals on iOS, suggesting active exploitation in targeted threat scenarios. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms, including the newly introduced visionOS, which powers Apple's mixed reality devices, expanding the attack surface to emerging device categories. The lack of user interaction requirement and remote attack vector make this vulnerability particularly dangerous in targeted espionage or surveillance campaigns. The vulnerability does not require elevated privileges to exploit, but the high attack complexity suggests exploitation requires significant skill or resources. Overall, this vulnerability represents a critical risk for users of affected Apple platforms, especially those in high-value or sensitive roles.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-31200 can be significant, especially for enterprises and government entities that rely on Apple devices for communication, collaboration, and sensitive data processing. The ability to execute arbitrary code remotely without user interaction can lead to unauthorized access to confidential information, intellectual property theft, and potential compromise of internal networks if infected devices are connected to corporate infrastructure. The inclusion of visionOS expands the threat to organizations adopting Apple's mixed reality platforms for training, design, or operational purposes. Targeted attacks exploiting this vulnerability could facilitate espionage against high-profile individuals, executives, or government officials within Europe. The medium CVSS score somewhat underrepresents the potential impact in targeted scenarios, where attackers can leverage this flaw to gain persistent footholds and exfiltrate sensitive data. Additionally, the vulnerability's presence across multiple Apple operating systems increases the likelihood of widespread exposure within organizations that deploy a mix of Apple devices. The lack of availability impact reduces the risk of service disruption but does not mitigate the severe confidentiality and integrity consequences. Overall, European organizations face risks of data breaches, loss of privacy, and potential regulatory consequences under GDPR if this vulnerability is exploited.

European organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Apple devices by deploying the updates tvOS 18.4.1, visionOS 2.4.1, iOS 18.4.1, iPadOS 18.4.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.4.1. Given the high attack complexity, organizations should also implement network-level protections such as restricting access to media file sources from untrusted or external networks and employing advanced threat detection tools capable of analyzing media file content for anomalies. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions should be tuned to monitor for suspicious process behaviors related to media processing components. Organizations should enforce strict device usage policies limiting the installation of untrusted applications or media files, especially on devices used by high-value personnel. User education should emphasize caution when handling unsolicited media files, even though user interaction is not required for exploitation, as social engineering may still be used to deliver payloads. For visionOS devices, which may be newer and less mature in enterprise deployment, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments before adoption and isolate these devices on segmented network zones. Incident response plans should be updated to include detection and remediation steps for exploitation of this vulnerability. Finally, organizations should engage with Apple security advisories and threat intelligence feeds to stay informed about any emerging exploitation techniques or indicators of compromise related to CVE-2025-31200.