CVE-2025-31205 is a vulnerability identified in Apple tvOS and other Apple operating systems including watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, macOS Sequoia, visionOS, and Safari. The flaw arises from insufficient enforcement of cross-origin data access controls, allowing a malicious website to exfiltrate data from other origins. This effectively bypasses the same-origin policy, a fundamental web security mechanism designed to prevent websites from accessing data belonging to other domains. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-352, which relates to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)-like issues, indicating that the attack may involve tricking a user into interacting with a malicious site that then exploits the cross-origin weakness. Exploitation requires no prior authentication but does require user interaction, such as visiting or interacting with a malicious webpage. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality by enabling unauthorized data disclosure but does not affect data integrity or system availability. Apple addressed this issue by implementing improved cross-origin checks and released patches in tvOS 18.5, watchOS 11.5, iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, macOS Sequoia 15.5, visionOS 2.5, and Safari 18.5. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, reflecting a medium severity level due to network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but requiring user interaction and impacting confidentiality only.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to confidentiality of sensitive information accessible via Apple tvOS and related Apple platforms. Organizations using Apple TV devices for digital signage, media streaming, or internal communications could have sensitive data exposed if users visit malicious websites. The risk extends to any web-based applications or services accessed through these devices that rely on cross-origin data protections. While the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, unauthorized data exfiltration could lead to leakage of proprietary information, user credentials, or session tokens, potentially facilitating further attacks. The impact is heightened in sectors with high reliance on Apple ecosystems, such as media, entertainment, education, and corporate environments using Apple hardware. Additionally, the requirement for user interaction means social engineering or phishing campaigns could be used to lure users to malicious sites. Although no active exploits are known, the medium severity score and broad Apple device usage in Europe necessitate prompt attention to prevent potential data breaches.

European organizations should prioritize deploying the latest Apple OS updates that address this vulnerability, specifically tvOS 18.5 and related patches for other Apple platforms. Device management policies should enforce automatic updates or timely patch application on all Apple devices, including Apple TVs used in corporate or public settings. Network-level controls can be implemented to restrict access to known malicious or untrusted websites, reducing the risk of user interaction with harmful content. Employing web content filtering and DNS security solutions can further mitigate exposure. User awareness training should emphasize the risks of interacting with suspicious websites, especially on devices connected to corporate networks. For environments where Apple TV devices are used for critical functions, consider isolating these devices on segmented networks to limit potential data exfiltration pathways. Monitoring network traffic for unusual outbound connections from Apple devices may help detect exploitation attempts. Finally, reviewing and tightening cross-origin resource sharing (CORS) policies in internal web applications accessed via these devices can reduce attack surface.