CVE-2025-31214 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple iOS and iPadOS platforms, identified as a weakness in the handling of network traffic state management. The vulnerability allows an attacker positioned within a privileged network role—such as a man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacker on the same network segment or a compromised network device—to intercept network traffic from affected devices. The flaw stems from improper state management, classified under CWE-300 (Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint), which can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data transmitted over the network. This vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require the attacker to have privileged network access, making exploitation feasible in environments where network controls are weak or compromised. The issue was addressed by Apple in iOS and iPadOS version 18.5 through improved state management mechanisms that prevent unauthorized interception. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.1, reflecting a high impact on confidentiality and availability, with no impact on integrity. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges at the network level (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and unchanged scope (S:U). Although no known exploits are reported in the wild yet, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of iOS and iPadOS devices globally, including in Europe. The vulnerability could be exploited to capture sensitive communications, potentially leaking confidential information or disrupting service availability by interfering with network traffic flows.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a considerable risk, especially for sectors relying heavily on iOS and iPadOS devices for communication and operational activities, such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure. The ability of an attacker to intercept network traffic could lead to exposure of sensitive corporate data, intellectual property, or personal data protected under GDPR, resulting in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, disruption of network availability could impact business continuity. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces using iOS/iPadOS devices on less secure networks (e.g., public Wi-Fi, poorly segmented corporate networks) are particularly vulnerable. The high prevalence of Apple devices in European markets amplifies the potential impact. Furthermore, the requirement for privileged network position means that attackers could leverage compromised network infrastructure or insider threats to exploit this vulnerability, increasing the risk profile for organizations with complex network environments.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading all iOS and iPadOS devices to version 18.5 or later as soon as possible to apply the official patch. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict network segmentation and monitoring to limit privileged network access, reducing the risk of MitM attacks. Deploying strong encryption protocols such as TLS 1.3 for all network communications can provide an additional layer of protection against interception. Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS) and anomaly detection tools should be configured to identify unusual traffic patterns indicative of interception attempts. Organizations should also enforce the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for remote access to secure traffic over untrusted networks. Regular security awareness training should emphasize the risks of connecting to unsecured networks and the importance of device updates. Finally, network infrastructure should be hardened and regularly audited to prevent unauthorized privileged access points that could facilitate exploitation.