CVE-2025-31213 is a vulnerability identified in Apple macOS and iPadOS where an application may gain unauthorized access to usernames and websites stored in a user's iCloud Keychain. The root cause is a logging issue where sensitive data was insufficiently redacted, allowing apps with limited privileges to extract sensitive credential metadata. This vulnerability affects macOS Ventura 13.7.6, macOS Sequoia 15.5, macOS Sonoma 14.7.6, and iPadOS 17.7.7. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-532, which relates to exposure of sensitive information through logs. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.6 (high), with vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L, indicating network attack vector, low attack complexity, requires privileges but no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality highly, with limited impact on integrity and availability. Although exploitation requires some level of privilege, no user interaction is needed, increasing the risk of automated or stealthy attacks. No known exploits have been reported in the wild yet. The vulnerability could allow malicious apps to harvest sensitive credential information, potentially leading to further compromise of user accounts or systems. Apple has addressed the issue by improving data redaction in logging mechanisms in the specified OS versions. The vulnerability highlights the risks of improper handling of sensitive data in system logs and the importance of strict access controls on credential storage.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-31213 is the compromise of confidentiality of user credentials stored in iCloud Keychain, specifically usernames and associated websites. For European organizations, this could lead to unauthorized access to corporate accounts, internal systems, and cloud services if attackers leverage harvested credentials. The integrity impact is limited but present, as attackers could potentially manipulate or misuse credentials. Availability impact is low but possible if attackers disrupt keychain services or related authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability requires an app with some privileges, so insider threats or malware with elevated permissions pose significant risks. European organizations with employees using macOS devices for sensitive operations, especially in finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure sectors, face increased risk of data breaches, espionage, and operational disruption. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it, emphasizing the need for proactive patching. The vulnerability also raises concerns about supply chain security and app vetting processes in enterprise environments.

1. Immediately apply the security updates released by Apple for macOS Ventura 13.7.6, Sequoia 15.5, Sonoma 14.7.6, and iPadOS 17.7.7 to ensure the logging issue is fixed. 2. Restrict app permissions rigorously, especially limiting access to keychain and sensitive system logs, using macOS privacy controls and Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies. 3. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized or untrusted apps from running with elevated privileges. 4. Monitor system logs and audit trails for unusual access patterns to keychain data or logging services. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of installing untrusted software and the importance of timely updates. 6. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect suspicious behavior indicative of privilege escalation or credential harvesting. 7. Review and tighten internal policies on app development and deployment to prevent inclusion of vulnerable or malicious code. 8. For organizations using Apple device management, enforce strict configuration profiles that limit app capabilities and access to sensitive data. 9. Consider multi-factor authentication (MFA) for critical services to mitigate risks from credential exposure. 10. Coordinate with Apple support and security teams for guidance and incident response if suspicious activity is detected.