Skip to main content

CVE-2025-31219: An attacker may be able to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory in Apple tvOS

High
VulnerabilityCVE-2025-31219cvecve-2025-31219
Published: Mon May 12 2025 (05/12/2025, 21:42:15 UTC)
Source: CVE
Vendor/Project: Apple
Product: tvOS

Description

The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in watchOS 11.5, macOS Sonoma 14.7.6, tvOS 18.5, iPadOS 17.7.7, iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5, macOS Sequoia 15.5, visionOS 2.5, macOS Ventura 13.7.6. An attacker may be able to cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory.

AI-Powered Analysis

AILast updated: 07/12/2025, 01:17:01 UTC

Technical Analysis

CVE-2025-31219 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Apple tvOS, identified as a memory handling flaw that can lead to unexpected system termination or corruption of kernel memory. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-119, indicating a classic memory safety issue such as a buffer overflow or improper memory management. Exploitation requires network access (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), and privileges (PR:L), but no user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability does not impact confidentiality but can compromise system integrity and availability, as indicated by the CVSS vector (C:N/I:L/A:H). Specifically, an attacker with limited privileges could remotely trigger this flaw to crash the system or corrupt kernel memory, potentially leading to denial of service or further privilege escalation. Apple addressed this vulnerability through improved memory handling in multiple OS versions, including tvOS 18.5 and other Apple platforms. No known exploits are currently in the wild, but the presence of a kernel memory corruption issue makes this a critical concern for devices running vulnerable tvOS versions, especially given the kernel-level impact and potential for system instability or compromise.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-31219 primarily revolves around the availability and integrity of Apple tvOS devices. Organizations using Apple TV devices for digital signage, conference room management, or media delivery could experience service disruptions if exploited. Kernel memory corruption could also be leveraged as a foothold for deeper system compromise, potentially affecting network security if Apple TV devices are integrated into corporate environments. Although confidentiality is not directly impacted, the loss of availability or integrity could disrupt business operations, particularly in sectors relying on Apple ecosystems for media or communication. Additionally, organizations with strict compliance requirements may face challenges if such vulnerabilities are exploited, leading to potential regulatory scrutiny. The lack of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk, but the ease of exploitation and kernel-level impact necessitate prompt remediation to avoid future attacks.

Mitigation Recommendations

1. Immediate deployment of the patches released by Apple for tvOS 18.5 and other affected platforms is critical to remediate this vulnerability. 2. Organizations should inventory all Apple tvOS devices to ensure they are updated to the fixed versions. 3. Network segmentation should be employed to isolate Apple TV devices from sensitive network segments, limiting exposure to potential attackers. 4. Implement strict access controls and monitoring on networks where Apple TV devices operate, including logging and anomaly detection for unusual device behavior. 5. Disable unnecessary services or features on Apple TV devices to reduce the attack surface. 6. Regularly review and update device management policies to ensure timely patching and vulnerability management for all IoT and media devices. 7. Educate IT staff about the risks associated with kernel-level vulnerabilities and the importance of rapid patch application.

Need more detailed analysis?Get Pro

Technical Details

Data Version
5.1
Assigner Short Name
apple
Date Reserved
2025-03-27T16:13:58.317Z
Cisa Enriched
true
Cvss Version
3.1
State
PUBLISHED

Threat ID: 682d9815c4522896dcbd5f92

Added to database: 5/21/2025, 9:08:37 AM

Last enriched: 7/12/2025, 1:17:01 AM

Last updated: 7/31/2025, 7:06:55 AM

Views: 14

Actions

PRO

Updates to AI analysis are available only with a Pro account. Contact root@offseq.com for access.

Please log in to the Console to use AI analysis features.

Need enhanced features?

Contact root@offseq.com for Pro access with improved analysis and higher rate limits.

Latest Threats